Question 1

Which of the following best defines statistics?

Accepted Answer

The art and science of designing studies, analyzing resultant data, and translating data into knowledge and understanding.

Question 2

A researcher wants to know the average number of hours college students sleep per night. She surveys 200 students at her university. In this context, what is the population?

Accepted Answer

All college students at her university.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Predicting that 42% of all drivers in Lloydminster will violate the distracted driving law based on a sample.

Question 4

What is the main purpose of random sampling in statistics?

Accepted Answer

To guarantee that the sample is representative of the population.

Question 5

In a study, the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day by a sample of teenagers is calculated. What is this value called?

Accepted Answer

A sample statistic.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics summarize data; inferential statistics make predictions or decisions about a population based on a sample.

Question 7

A marketing team wants to know if a new TV ad increases visits to Starbucks. They collect data on the percentage of people who went to Starbucks before and after the ad aired. Which aspect of a statistical study does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Description

Question 8

Suppose you want to estimate the proportion $$p of $$all Canadian adults who are highly concerned about climate change. You survey 1,000 adults and find that 540 are highly concerned. Which of the following is the correct sample statistic?

Accepted Answer

$$\frac{540}{1000} = 0.54$$

Question 9

Why is variability important in statistics?

Accepted Answer

It allows us to understand that measurements can differ from subject to subject and from sample to sample.

Question 10

Which of the following is a population parameter?

Accepted Answer

The mean age of all students in a university.

Question 11

A meteorologist constructs a line graph showing the total precipitation in Lloydminster for each month of 2019. What type of statistical method is being used?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a simple random sample?

Accepted Answer

A sample where each subject in the population has the same chance of being included.

Question 13

A study finds that 61.9% of 29,516 Canadians surveyed agreed that the local police do a good job of treating people fairly. What is the sample in this study?

Accepted Answer

The 29,516 Canadians who responded to the survey.

Question 14

Which of the following scenarios illustrates the use of design in statistics?

Accepted Answer

Planning how to select people for a survey to study the effects of Vitamin E on athletic strength.

Question 15

If a sample statistic is used to estimate a population parameter, which type of statistical method is being applied?

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics

Question 16

A researcher randomly selects 10 individuals from a population of 100. In which scenario is probability being used rather than statistics?

Accepted Answer

When the political affiliations of all 100 people are known and the sample is used to check expected outcomes.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a reason why randomness is important in sampling?

Accepted Answer

It guarantees that every possible sample will yield the same result.

Question 18

A sample of 1,000 likely voters shows that 39% approve of the job the Prime Minister is doing. If we are 95% confident that the population proportion is between 36% and 42%, what is the 39% called?

Accepted Answer

Sample statistic

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the role of subjects in a statistical study?

Accepted Answer

Subjects are the entities that are measured in a study.

Question 20

Why are predictions more accurate for larger samples?

Accepted Answer

Because larger samples reduce the effect of variability.

Introduction to Statistics: Understanding Data, Populations, and Statistical Methods

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