Which statement is correct concerning a statistical experiment?

A statistical experiment is defined as a procedure that produces outcomes, typically involving randomness. The correct statement regarding a statistical experiment is that its outcome is determined by chance. This means that the result of the experiment is not fixed in advance and can vary each time the experiment is conducted.

In the context of a statistical experiment, chance plays a vital role since it introduces variability and unpredictability in the outcomes. For example, when flipping a coin, the outcome (heads or tails) is determined by chance; the next flip is not influenced by previous flips. This inherent randomness is fundamental to statistical analysis, as it allows for the gathering of data to understand probabilities and distributions.

The other statements do not accurately capture the essence of a statistical experiment. For instance, the notion that a statistical experiment can have more than one outcome at a time may suggest multiple simultaneous outcomes, which is not a typical characteristic. Rather, each execution of the experiment yields a single outcome based on chance. The idea that the possible outcomes are not known beforehand is misleading, as many statistical experiments have defined sample spaces where outcomes can be clearly identified, even if they are uncertain. Lastly, the claim that the outcome is predetermined contradicts the foundational concept of randomness essential to statistical experiments.