Chapter 1 Quiz

Determine whether the description corresponds to an observational study or an experiment. Research is conducted to determine if there is a relation between skin cancer and hair color. a) Observational Study. b) Experiment

a) Observational Study

Determine whether the given value is a statistic or a parameter. A sample of employees is selected and it is found that 40% own a television. a) Statistic because the value is a numerical measurement describing a characteristic of a sample. b) Parameter because the value is a numerical measurement describing a characteristic of a sample. c) Parameter because the value is a numerical measurement describing a characteristic of a population. d) Statistic because the value is a numerical measurement describing a characteristic of a population.

a) Statistic because the value is a numerical measurement describing a characteristic of a sample.

Determine whether the results below appear to have statistical significance, and also determine whether the results have practical significance. In a study of a weight loss program, 7 subjects lost an average of 42 lbs. It is found that there is about a 31% chance of getting such results with a diet that has no effect. Does the weight loss program have statistical significance? a) Yes, the program is statistically significant because the results are unlikely to occur by chance. b) No, the program is not statistically significant because the results are likely to occur by chance. c) No, the program is not statistically significant because the results are unlikely to occur by chance. d) Yes, the program is statistically significant because the results are likely to occur by chance. Does the weight loss program have practical significance? a) No, the program is not practically significant because the amount of weight lost is trivial. b) No, the program is not practically significant because the results are likely to occur even if the weight loss program has no effect. c) Yes, the program is practically significant because the amount of lost weight is large enough to be considered practically significant. d) Yes, the program is practically significant because the results are too unlikely to occur by chance.

b) No, the program is not statistically significant because the results are likely to occur by chance. c) Yes, the program is practically significant because the amount of lost weight is large enough to be considered practically significant.

Identify the type of sampling used (random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster sampling) in the situation described below. A woman is selected by a marketing company to participate in a paid focus group. The company says that the woman was selected because every 10,000th person in the phone number listings was being selected. a) Random Sampling b) Systematic Sampling c) Convenience Sampling d) Cluster Sampling e) Stratified Sampling

b) Systematic Sampling

State whether the data described below are discrete or continuous, and explain why. The masses (in kilograms) of different meteorites. a) The data are discrete because the data can only take on specific values. b) The data are continuous because the data can take on any value in an interval. c) The data are continuous because the data can take on specific values. d) The data are discrete because the data can take on any value in an interval.

b) The data are continuous because the data can take on any value in an interval.

State whether the data described below are discrete or continuous, and explain why. The number of people in a theater each night. a) The data are discrete because the data can take on any value in an interval. b) The data are discrete because the data can only take on specific values. c) The data are continuous because the data can only take on specific values. d) The data are continuous because the data can take on any value in an interval.

b) The data are discrete because the data can only take on specific values.

Determine whether the data described below are qualitative or quantitative and explain why. The show sizes (such as 8 or 10 1/2) of test subjects. a) The data are qualitative because they consist of counts or measurements. b) The data are quantitative because they consist of counts or measurements. c) The data are quantitative because they don't measure or count anything. d) The data are qualitative because they don't measure or count anything.

b) The data are quantitative because they consist of counts or measurements.

Determine whether the given description corresponds to an observational study or an experiment. In a study of 372 children with a particular disease, the subjects were asked to complete a survey about their diet upon arrival to a hospital. a) The given description corresponds to an experiment. b) The given description corresponds to an observational study. c) The given description does not provide enough information to answer the question.

b) The given description corresponds to an observational study.

Determine which of the four levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) is most appropriate for the data below. Types of restaurants (fast food, organic food, sea food, etc.) a) The interval level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, differences (obtained by subtraction) can be found and are meaningful, and there is no natural starting point. b) The nominal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data cannot be ordered. c) The ordinal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, but differences (obtained by subtraction) cannot be found or are meaningless. d) The ratio level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, differences (obtained by subtraction) can be found and are meaningful, and there is a natural starting point.

b) The nominal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data cannot be ordered.

In a double-blind experiment designed to test the effectiveness of a new medication as a treatment for lower back pain, 1643 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) the 547 subjects in the placebo group were given pills containing no medication, (2) 550 subjects were in a group given pills with the new medicine taken at regular intervals, (3) 546 subjects were in a group given pills with the new medication to be taken when needed for pain relief. What does it mean to say that the experiment is double-blind? a) The subjects in the study were given the choice of taking the placebo or the new medication, but those who administered the pills did not know which group the subjects were in. b) The subjects in the study did not know whether they were taking a placebo or the new medication, and those who administered the pills also did not know. c) Both the subjects in the study and those who administered the pills knew whether they were taking a placebo or the new medication. d) The subjects in the study did not know whether they were taking a placebo or the new medication, but those who administered the pills did know.

b) The subjects in the study did not know whether they were taking a placebo or the new medication, and those who administered the pills also did not know.

Which of the following is NOT a misuse of statistics? a) Misleading graphs b) Utilizing valid statistical methods and correct sampling techniques c) Making conclusions about a population based on a voluntary response sample. d) Concluding that a variable causes another variable because they have some correlation.

b) Utilizing valid statistical methods and correct sampling techniques

Determine which of the four levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) is most appropriate for the data below. Favorite musicians. a) Ordinal b) Interval c) Ratio d) Nominal

d) Nominal

Identify the type of sampling used (random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster sampling) in the situation described below. In a poll conducted by a certain research center, 1195 adults were called after their telephone numbers were randomly generated by a computer, and 64% were able to correctly identify the vice president. a) Convenience Sampling b) Stratified Sampling c) Systematic Sampling d) Random Sampling e) Cluster Sampling

d) Random Sampling

Determine which of the four levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) is most appropriate for the data below. Stress score where the mean is zero and the increments of measurement are equal. a) The ratio level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, differences (obtained by subtraction) can be found and are meaningful, and there is a natural starting point. b) The ordinal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, but differences (obtained by subtraction) cannot be found or are meaningless. c) The nominal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data cannot be ordered. d) The interval level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, differences (obtained by subtraction) can be found and are meaningful, and there is no natural starting point.

d) The interval level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, differences (obtained by subtraction) can be found and are meaningful, and there is no natural starting point.

Determine which of the four levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) is most appropriate for the data below. Social security numbers. a) The ratio level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, differences (obtained by subtraction) can be found and are meaningful, and there is a natural starting point. b) The ordinal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, but differences (obtained by subtraction) cannot be found or are meaningless. c) The interval level of measurement is most appropriate because the data can be ordered, differences (obtained by subtraction) can be found and are meaningful, and there is no natural starting point. d) The nominal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data cannot be ordered.

d) The nominal level of measurement is most appropriate because the data cannot be ordered.

Identify the type of sampling used (random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster sampling) in the situation described below. A researcher selects every 271th social security number and surveys the corresponding person. a) random sampling b) cluster sampling c) convenience sampling d) systematic sampling e) stratified sampling

d) systematic sampling

Identify the type of sampling used (random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster sampling) in the situation described below. To determine customer opinion of their pricing, Amtrak randomly selects 40 trains during a certain week and surveys all passengers on the trains. a) Convenience b) Systematic c) Stratified d) Random e) Cluster

e) Cluster

Identify the type of sampling used (random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster sampling) in the situation described below. A television station asks its viewers to call in their opinion regarding the desirability of programs in high definition TV. a) Cluster b) Random c) Systematic d) Stratified e) Convenience

e) Convenience

Determine whether the study is an experiment or an observational study, and then identify a major problem with the study. A medial researcher tested for a difference in systolic blood pressure levels between male and female students who are 12 years of age. She randomly selected four males and four females for her study. This is an __________ because the researcher __________ the individuals. What is a major problem with the study? a) The sample is too small. b) This is a convenience sample with voluntary response, which has a high chance of leading to bias. c) There is no blinding, which has a high chance of leading to bias. d) The sample includes male and female students.

observational study; does not attempt to modify a) The sample is too small.