Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

To collect, organize, summarize, and analyze information in order to draw conclusions and provide a measure of confidence in those conclusions.

Question 2

A researcher surveys 2,000 college students about their study habits. Which of the following best describes the population and the sample?

Accepted Answer

Population: All college students; Sample: The 2,000 surveyed students.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The number of cars owned by a family.

Question 4

In a survey, 48% of students at a college own a car. Out of 100 students surveyed, 46 own a car. Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

48% is a parameter and 46 is a statistic.

Question 5

Which of the following variables is qualitative?

Accepted Answer

Nationality of a person.

Question 6

A study finds that 23% of 6,076 adults in public restrooms did not wash their hands before exiting. What is the best description of the number 23%?

Accepted Answer

It is a statistic because it describes a sample.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Using sample data to make generalizations about a population and measuring the reliability of those generalizations.

Question 8

A radio show asks listeners to call in or respond online to a poll. What is the main statistical concern with this method of data collection?

Accepted Answer

The data may not be representative of the population due to self-selection bias.

Question 9

Which of the following is a continuous variable?

Accepted Answer

Grade earned in Algebra as a percentage.

Question 10

A survey of 1,017 American adults found that 35% believe the federal government wastes at least 51 cents of each tax dollar, with a margin of error of 4% and a 95% level of confidence. What does the margin of error and confidence level mean?

Accepted Answer

There is a 95% chance that the true proportion is within 4% of 35%.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the process of statistics?

Accepted Answer

Identify research objective, collect data, describe data, perform inference.

Question 12

Based on the table of driver’s license laws, which variable is qualitative?

Accepted Answer

Mandatory belt use seating positions.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a parameter?

Accepted Answer

The average score of all students in a university.

Question 14

A study on high school students’ sleep habits is used to make conclusions about college students’ sleep habits. What is the main statistical error in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The conclusions are generalized outside the group that was studied.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes a sample?

Accepted Answer

A subset of the population.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Ignore the reliability of the results.

Question 17

If a variable can take on any value within a given range, it is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A continuous variable.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of using descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Calculating the average height of students in a class.

Question 19

A student’s ID number is best classified as which type of variable?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the difference between a parameter and a statistic?

Accepted Answer

A parameter describes a population, while a statistic describes a sample.

Introduction to the Practice of Statistics: Data Collection and Classification

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