What term refers to the population from which the sample is drawn?

The term that refers to the population from which the sample is drawn is "sampled population." This concept is fundamental in statistics because it defines the specific group of individuals or items that researchers are interested in studying. When conducting research or sampling, the sampled population serves as the source from which the actual sample is selected for analysis. Understanding the sampled population is crucial because it helps to ensure that the sample accurately represents the broader population, which in turn impacts the validity of the research findings.

The other terms do not accurately describe this concept. A "random sample" refers to the specific selection of individuals from the sampled population, intended to provide a representative subset. The "whole population" typically denotes the entire group of interest rather than the specific portion being sampled. An "element set" is not a standard term used in statistics to describe any population or sampling framework.