The sampling distribution of the sample mean refers to the distribution of all possible sample means that could occur from repeated random sampling. the population from which the sample is drawn. the sample that was actually observed. the individual observations in the sample.

The correct answer is: **the distribution of all possible sample means that could occur from repeated random sampling.** ### Explanation: 1. **Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean**: This concept refers to the distribution that results from taking all possible samples of a specific size from a population and calculating the mean of each sample. 2. **Population**: While the population is the entire group from which samples are drawn, the sampling distribution specifically focuses on the means of those samples, not the population itself. 3. **Observed Sample**: The sample that was actually observed refers to a single instance of sampling, which does not encompass the idea of a distribution of means. 4. **Individual Observations**: The individual observations in the sample are the raw data points, but the sampling distribution is concerned with the means of samples, not the individual data points. Thus, the sampling distribution of the sample mean is fundamentally about the means derived from repeated sampling, making the first option the correct choice.