Which of the following is true of an unbiased estimator value?
A) The expected value will align perfectly with the population mean.
B) The expected value will not equal the population's parameters.
C) The expected value will not be greater than zero.
D) The expected value will equal the population's parameter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An unbiased estimator is one whose expected value is equal to the population's parameter. Therefore, option D is correct. Option A is incorrect because even if the estimator is unbiased, it is still subject to sampling variability, so it cannot always align perfectly with the population mean. Option B is also incorrect because an unbiased estimator can sometimes equal the population's parameters but, on average, it should be equal to the parameter. Option C is incorrect because the expected value of an unbiased estimator can be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the estimator and its properties.

Which of the Following Is True of an Unbiased Estimator