母集団

• Reading: ぼしゅうだん
• Romaji: boshuu dan
• Kanji breakdown: 母 (bo) — mother, parent, source; 集 (shuu) — gather, collect; 団 (dan) — group, body
• Pronunciation: /bo.ɕɯː.dan/

Meaning

Population; parent group. In statistics, the complete set of individuals, objects, or measurements about which conclusions are to be drawn.

In statistical methodology, 母集団 refers to the entire group of interest from which a sample (標本) is drawn. Because studying an entire population is often impractical, statistical inference allows conclusions about the 母集団 based on sample data. The distinction between population parameters and sample statistics is fundamental to hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and survey design.

Examples

1. アンケート調査では母集団全体を調べることは難しいため、無作為抽出で標本を得る。 Because it is difficult to survey the entire population in a questionnaire study, a sample is obtained through random sampling.
2. この研究の母集団は十八歳から二十五歳の大学生に限定されている。 The population of this study is limited to university students aged 18 to 25.
3. 母集団の分布が正規分布に従うかどうかを確認するため、検定を行った。 A test was conducted to verify whether the population follows a normal distribution.

Usage Guide

Context: statistics, research, social science, epidemiology

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

Compound of 母 (mother, parent, source) + 集団 (group, aggregate). The metaphor of a 'mother group' from which samples are drawn elegantly captures the statistical relationship between population and sample.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults (academic)

Social background: Academic/Professional