Question 1

Which of the following best describes the four steps of the statistical investigative process?

Accepted Answer

Ask a question, collect data, analyze data, make a conclusion

Question 2

A statistics class wants to know if listening to music while studying improves quiz scores. Which of the following is an example of Step 2 (collecting data) in the statistical investigative process?

Accepted Answer

Students randomly select 40 students and record whether or not they study with music and their next quiz score.

Question 3

In the fortune teller activity, if the fortune teller is just guessing, what is the expected number of correct guesses out of 17 coin tosses?

Accepted Answer

$$8.5$$

Question 4

Why is it important to use a random sample when trying to generalize results to a larger population?

Accepted Answer

Random samples ensure that every individual in the population has a known, equal chance of being selected.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a voluntary response sample?

Accepted Answer

A poll is posted online and anyone who wants to can respond.

Question 6

A survey is sent to a random sample of households, but only one-third respond. What type of bias is most likely present?

Accepted Answer

Nonresponse bias

Question 7

Which of the following best defines 'sampling variability'?

Accepted Answer

The difference in results from one sample to another due to random chance.

Question 8

A survey asks: 'Don’t you agree that our school lunch is the best?' What type of bias is most likely present?

Accepted Answer

Response bias

Question 9

If a sample is collected by only surveying people at a gym about their exercise habits, what type of bias is most likely present?

Accepted Answer

Undercoverage bias

Question 10

Which of the following statements about bias in statistics is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Bias means the sampling method consistently gives results too high or too low.

Question 11

A teacher selects the first 10 students who walk into the cafeteria to answer a survey. What type of sample is this?

Accepted Answer

Convenience sample

Question 12

A poll is sent to all students, but only those who feel strongly about the topic respond. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Voluntary response bias

Question 13

Suppose you want to estimate the average number of hours students sleep per night. Which sampling method would give the most reliable estimate?

Accepted Answer

Randomly selecting students from the entire school

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a population in a statistical study?

Accepted Answer

All individuals or items of interest in a study

Question 15

A researcher wants to know the average income of families applying for financial aid. They only use FAFSA applications for their data. What is a likely issue with this approach?

Accepted Answer

Undercoverage bias

Question 16

Which of the following is a key difference between a convenience sample and a random sample?

Accepted Answer

A random sample gives every individual an equal chance of being selected, while a convenience sample does not.

Question 17

If a survey is sent by email to a random sample of students, but only 42% respond, what type of bias is most likely present?

Accepted Answer

Nonresponse bias

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the term 'response bias'?

Accepted Answer

When people give inaccurate answers due to the way questions are asked

Question 19

A dotplot shows the number of correct guesses out of 17 coin tosses for many people guessing randomly. What does each dot on the plot represent?

Accepted Answer

A different person’s total number of correct guesses

Question 20

Why might a random sample of 5 words from a paragraph give a better estimate of average word length than a convenience sample of 5 words?

Accepted Answer

A random sample is less likely to be biased and more likely to represent the whole paragraph.

Unit 1: Collecting and Describing Data – Foundations of Introductory Statistics

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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