Question 1

Which of the following best describes a parameter in statistics?

Accepted Answer

A numerical characteristic describing a population.

Question 2

A researcher wants to know the average number of hours college students in California study per week. She surveys 1,000 students and finds an average of 15 hours. In this scenario, what is the population?

Accepted Answer

All college students in California.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Blood type.

Question 4

A random sample is defined as:

Accepted Answer

A sample where each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 5

Which of the following is a discrete quantitative variable?

Accepted Answer

Number of pets owned.

Question 6

A statistic is:

Accepted Answer

A summary value calculated from a sample.

Question 7

Which of the following best illustrates the difference between data and statistics?

Accepted Answer

Data are raw facts or observations, while statistics are summaries or analyses of those data.

Question 8

A study records the zip codes of patients admitted to a hospital. What type of variable is zip code?

Accepted Answer

Categorical (qualitative)

Question 9

Suppose a school wants to estimate the average GPA of its students. They randomly select 200 students and calculate the average GPA. Which of the following is the statistic?

Accepted Answer

The average GPA calculated from the 200 students.

Question 10

Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates a representative sample?

Accepted Answer

Randomly selecting students from all classes and grades to mirror the school’s diversity.

Question 11

Which of the following is a continuous quantitative variable?

Accepted Answer

Height of a person in centimeters.

Question 12

A researcher wants to know the proportion of voters in a city who support a new law. She surveys 500 randomly selected voters. What is the sample in this context?

Accepted Answer

The 500 voters surveyed.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about random samples is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Random samples give each individual in the population an equal chance of being selected.

Question 14

A hospital records the weight (in kilograms) of newborn babies. What type of variable is weight?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative, continuous

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a representative sample?

Accepted Answer

It is chosen based on convenience rather than randomness.

Question 16

A school administrator wants to know the average commute time for all students. She collects data from a randomly selected group of 100 students. Which of the following best describes the parameter in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The average commute time of all students at the school.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a situation where a sample may NOT be representative of the population?

Accepted Answer

Surveying only people who attend a specific event to represent the whole city.

Question 18

A researcher collects the following data: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Without context, what is missing from this data?

Accepted Answer

The context that explains what the numbers represent.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the difference between discrete and continuous quantitative variables?

Accepted Answer

Discrete variables are counts, while continuous variables are measurements that can take any value within a range.

Question 20

A city wants to estimate the average household income. They survey 2,000 households and find an average income of $60,000. Which of the following is the statistic?

Accepted Answer

The average income of the 2,000 households surveyed.

Introduction to Statistics: Key Concepts and Definitions

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards