Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

To describe and understand sources of variability in data.

Question 2

A researcher wants to know the average number of hours college students sleep per night. She surveys 200 students and finds the average is 6.8 hours. Which term best describes the value 6.8?

Accepted Answer

Statistic

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a qualitative (categorical) variable?

Accepted Answer

Nationality

Question 4

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

Continuous variable

Question 5

Which level of measurement allows for meaningful ratios and has a true zero?

Accepted Answer

Ratio

Question 6

In a study, the variable 'class rank' (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior) is measured. What is the level of measurement for this variable?

Accepted Answer

Ordinal

Question 7

A school surveys students about whether they eat lunch in the cafeteria (Yes/No). What type of variable is this?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative (categorical)

Question 8

Which of the following is a correct example of a discrete variable?

Accepted Answer

Number of cars in a parking lot

Question 9

A researcher collects data on the number of vending machines in each school. What is the level of measurement for this variable?

Accepted Answer

Ratio

Question 10

Which of the following statements about descriptive and inferential statistics is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics summarize data; inferential statistics generalize results to a population.

Question 11

Suppose a poll reports that 52% of a sample of 1,628 adults trust their neighbors, with a margin of error of 2.5%. What is the interval estimate for the population proportion?

Accepted Answer

$$49.5\% 	ext{ to } 54.5\%$$

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a step in the process of statistics?

Accepted Answer

Ignore the reliability of results

Question 13

A variable measured as 'number of days per week a student eats school lunch' is best classified as:

Accepted Answer

Quantitative, discrete

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a parameter?

Accepted Answer

A numerical summary of a population

Question 15

A researcher measures 'household income in the previous year' for a group of adults. Which type of variable is this?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative, continuous

Question 16

Which of the following variables is measured at the interval level?

Accepted Answer

Temperature in degrees Celsius

Question 17

A sample is:

Accepted Answer

A subset of the population being studied

Question 18

Which of the following arithmetic operations can be performed on data measured at the ratio level?

Accepted Answer

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Question 19

A researcher wants to generalize findings from a sample to a population and report a level of reliability. Which branch of statistics is being used?

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics

Question 20

Which of the following is a correct definition of a continuous variable?

Accepted Answer

A variable that can take on an infinite number of values within a given range

Fundamentals of Statistics: Data Collection and Statistical Thinking

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