C12. The following table presents the number of parolees (per 100,000 people) for 12 of the most populous states as of July 2015.

Source: National Institute of Corrections, Correction Statistics by State, 2016.

1. Assume that σ = 226.83 for the entire population of 50 states. Calculate and interpret the standard error. (Consider the formula for the standard error. Since we provided the population standard deviation, calculating the standard error requires only minor calculations.)

2. Write a brief statement on the following: the standard error compared with the standard deviation of the population, the shape of the sampling distribution, and suggestions for reducing the standard error.