A confidence interval is a range of values, derived from sample data, that is likely to contain the true population parameter with a specified level of confidence. It provides a measure of uncertainty around the estimate, allowing researchers to make inferences about the population with a known level of risk for error.
Parametric estimation involves using statistical methods to estimate the parameters of a probability distribution that best fit a given data set. It assumes a specific form for the distribution and uses sample data to infer the values of the distribution's parameters, enabling predictions and insights about the underlying population.