Question 1

Which of the following best describes the science of statistics?

Accepted Answer

The study of collecting, organizing, summarizing, and analyzing information to draw conclusions or answer questions, while providing a measure of confidence in any conclusions.

Question 2

A researcher wants to estimate the average height of all students at a university. She randomly selects 100 students and calculates their average height. In this context, what is the population?

Accepted Answer

All students at the university.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a parameter?

Accepted Answer

The percentage of all U.S. adults who own a smartphone.

Question 4

Which of the following variables is qualitative?

Accepted Answer

Favorite type of cuisine (e.g., Italian, Chinese, Mexican)

Question 5

A variable that can take on any value within a given range and can be measured to any desired level of accuracy is called:

Accepted Answer

A continuous variable

Question 6

Which level of measurement allows for meaningful differences between values, but a value of zero does NOT indicate the absence of the quantity?

Accepted Answer

Interval

Question 7

A researcher divides a population into groups based on age (children, adults, seniors) and then randomly selects individuals from each group. What sampling method is this?

Accepted Answer

Stratified sampling

Question 8

Which of the following best describes a systematic sample?

Accepted Answer

Selecting every $$kth $$individual from the population after a random start.

Question 9

A study follows a group of people over 20 years to observe the development of heart disease. What type of observational study is this?

Accepted Answer

Cohort study

Question 10

Which of the following is a source of response bias in a survey?

Accepted Answer

The wording of questions influences the answers.

Question 11

Suppose a researcher wants to study the effect of a new drug. She randomly assigns patients to either receive the drug or a placebo and then measures their blood pressure. What type of study is this?

Accepted Answer

Designed experiment

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of sampling bias?

Accepted Answer

Surveying only morning commuters to estimate the average daily ridership of a city’s subway system.

Question 13

A researcher collects data on the number of cars passing through an intersection each hour. What type of variable is this?

Accepted Answer

Discrete quantitative variable

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a cluster sample?

Accepted Answer

Randomly selecting groups and including all individuals from those groups in the sample.

Question 15

Which of the following is true about observational studies?

Accepted Answer

They can show association but not causation.

Question 16

A survey asks respondents to rate their satisfaction as 'unsatisfied', 'neutral', or 'satisfied'. What is the level of measurement for this variable?

Accepted Answer

Ordinal

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a lurking variable in a study examining the relationship between exercise and weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Diet of the participants

Question 18

If a sample statistic is used to estimate a population parameter, what type of error is unavoidable?

Accepted Answer

Sampling error

Question 19

Which formula is used to determine the value of $$k in $$systematic sampling, where $$N is $$the population size and $$n is $$the sample size?

Accepted Answer

$$k = \frac{N}{n}$$

Question 20

A researcher wants to study the effect of caffeine on reaction time. She recruits volunteers, measures their reaction time before and after drinking coffee, and compares the results. Which is the response variable?

Accepted Answer

Reaction time

Chapter 1: Data Collection – Introductory Statistics Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards