What is referred to as the overarching plan for a statistical study including its execution?

The term that describes the overarching plan for a statistical study along with its execution is the study design. This involves determining how the study will be conducted, including how data will be collected, which methodologies will be used, and how the results will be analyzed. A well-structured study design is critical because it helps ensure that the study effectively addresses the research questions and yields valid, reliable results.

In contrast, the other options refer to different aspects of the study. The population relates to the entire group that the study aims to understand or draw conclusions about, while the sample refers to the subset of the population that is actually observed or measured during the study. Validation, on the other hand, refers to the process of confirming that the methods and tools used in the study are reliable and produce consistent results. Each of these concepts plays a critical role in the study process, but they do not encapsulate the entire framework of planning and execution like the study design does.