Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main goal of inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

To measure the reliability of conclusions drawn from a sample and extend results to a population.

Question 2

Suppose a researcher wants to know the average amount of money spent on textbooks by all college students in the U.S. She surveys 500 students and finds an average of $350. In this context, what is the statistic?

Accepted Answer

$350, the average amount spent by the sample of 500 students.

Question 3

Which of the following variables is both quantitative and continuous?

Accepted Answer

Temperature measured in degrees Celsius

Question 4

A researcher divides a city into 20 neighborhoods and randomly selects 5 neighborhoods. She surveys every household in those 5 neighborhoods. What type of sampling is this?

Accepted Answer

Cluster sampling

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a variable measured at the ordinal level?

Accepted Answer

Letter grade earned in a class (A, B, C, D, F)

Question 6

In a study, researchers randomly assign rats to receive either a new drug or a placebo and then measure their blood pressure. What is the explanatory variable?

Accepted Answer

The type of treatment (drug or placebo)

Question 7

Which of the following best describes a confounding variable?

Accepted Answer

A variable that was considered in the study but whose effect cannot be separated from another explanatory variable.

Question 8

A survey asks, 'Do you agree that the new recycling program is a great improvement?' Which type of bias is most likely present in this question?

Accepted Answer

Response bias due to wording of the question

Question 9

A sample is selected by choosing every 10th person who enters a store, starting with the 3rd person. What type of sampling is this?

Accepted Answer

Systematic sampling

Question 10

Which of the following is a key disadvantage of observational studies?

Accepted Answer

They cannot establish causation, only association.

Question 11

A researcher collects data on the number of books read by students in a month. What is the level of measurement for this variable?

Accepted Answer

Ratio

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a double-blind experiment?

Accepted Answer

Neither the subjects nor the researchers know which treatment each subject receives.

Question 13

Suppose a study finds that people who drink more coffee tend to have higher rates of heart disease, but many coffee drinkers also smoke. What is smoking in this context?

Accepted Answer

A confounding variable

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a discrete quantitative variable?

Accepted Answer

The number of heads in 10 coin flips

Question 15

A researcher wants to estimate the average commute time for all employees at a company. She randomly selects 10 employees from each department. What sampling method is she using?

Accepted Answer

Stratified sampling

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of response bias?

Accepted Answer

Respondents giving answers they think are socially acceptable rather than truthful

Question 17

A study follows a group of people for 20 years to see who develops a certain disease. What type of observational study is this?

Accepted Answer

Cohort study

Question 18

Which of the following is a source of nonsampling error?

Accepted Answer

Data-entry errors during recording

Question 19

In the Lipitor experiment, what is the response variable?

Accepted Answer

Whether the subject had any major cardiovascular event

Question 20

Which of the following best describes a convenience sample?

Accepted Answer

A sample where individuals are chosen because they are easy to reach

Chapter 1: Data Collection and Introduction to Statistics

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards