An analyst selects a model as a champion because it shows better model fit than a competing model with more predictors. Which statistic justifies this rationale?

The correct answer is: The Akaike information criterion (AIC).

Explanation:

Named after Japanese mathematic Hirotugu Akaike (1927-2009), the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) is a relative quality statistical model that estimates the quality of a model based on the quality of others based on the amount of information the model losses: the lesser, the higher quality.