Quantitative Methods Test 1
Survey and opinion polls are forms of? a) Cohort studies b) Observation studies c) Case study d) Experiment
Answer B
A group of students are preparing to revamp their research proposal, to do that they are sorting the data types of different information they collected. Which of the following are quantitative data? a) The number of births per year in the United States collected from government data. b) The results of a survey asking participants whether they believe the birth rate in the U.S is increasing or decreasing. c) The number of deaths per year in the United States collected from government data. d) The results of interviews of young adults asking whether or not they will consider having children in the future.
Answer Key: 1) The number of births per year is a numeric value calculated by determining the sum of all births in a year; This data is therefore quantitative. 2) This survey is asking people their opinions, that is to say, they are asking people what they think of birth rates. This information is therefore qualitative. 3) The number of deaths per year is a numeric value calculated by determining the sum of all deaths in a year; This data is therefore quantitative. 4) These interviews are asking whether or not people will consider having children, there is no numerical data to back up any claim, it is merely asking for opinions. This would be qualitative data.
Which of the following guidelines for evaluating a statistical study are in this reading?: a) Look for problems in defining or measuring the variables of interest. b) Stand back and consider the conclusions c) Beware of confounding variables d) Disregard studies with sample sizes that are n < 2000.
Answer key: A. Guideline 4 - Page 312 B. Guideline 8 - Page 315 C. Guideline 5 - Page 313 D. Not a guideline, but many people disregard studies with smaller sample sizes, so I figured this serve as a good reading check question.
Researchers decide to conduct a poll to predict possible election results, they pay to include an optional survey in one of the more popular magazines in their state; What type of bias does this type of survey have? a) Selection bias. b) Racial bias. c) Participation bias. d) Electoral bias.
Answer key: a) The researchers are not selecting their sample, they are letting willing readers to participate -> incorrect. b) The researchers are not including any racial bias through this method of surveying -> incorrect. c) The researchers will encounter participation bias due to the decreasing number of people willing to participate in surveys. Since this survey is in a magazine, only those who feel strongly enough about the study or its contents will participate. -> correct. There is no electoral bias, this isn't an election -> incorrect
Statistical studies are objective? a) Yes, if they are objective they have no bias b) No, sometimes the people who carry them out or are funding them can be bias c) Yes, there's never no bias in studies d) No, because they are subjective
Answer- B
) Why is the question "Would you favor a tax cut even if it increased the federal deficit?" a better poll question than "Do you favor a tax cut?" a) Because it is grammatically correct b) Because it provides more information and choice c) It is not correct d) Because it is longer
Answer: (b) "Do you favor a tax cut?" limits the participants information given on the topic and options, as for "Would you favor a tax cut even if it increased the federal deficit?", gives the participant something to ponder and decide between, creating a more honest answer.
A Scientist is interested in whether young children breaking their bones impacts their physical, mental, and emotion growth as a person. What is the best way to find an answer to this question? a) A double-blind experiment b) A retrospective study c) A single-blind experiment d) An observational study
Answer: (b) The Scientist should conduct a retrospective study because it would be unethical to intentionally break any living-things bones. With a retrospective study the Scientist is able to access data on children who have broken bones and adults who broke bones as children.
The company Target wants to conduct research to see if people like Target or Walmart better in Philadelphia for their shopping experience, who would be the best group of people to survey? a) Target employees b) Target shoppers c) Randomly selected Citizens in Philadelphia d) Walmart shoppers
Answer: (c) "Randomly selected citizens in Philadelphia is the best option out of the four because they will most likely have the least amount of bias. A Target employee or Target shopper is more likely to say Target is the better company which will skew the data one way rather than showing an accurate reading. The same goes for Walmart shoppers.
A Psephologist—a scientist that studies elections—wishes to figure out whether candidate A or candidate B are the majority when it comes to the public vote in Pennsylvania in the upcoming election. Where should the Psephologist take their data from? a) All age groups living in Pennsylvania b) All citizens with voter's licenses c) All citizens with a Pennsylvania driver's license d) All citizens with a Pennsylvania voters license.
Answer: (d) The Psephologist should take their data from citizens who have a Pennsylvania voters license because those individuals are the ones who will be voting in the upcoming election. For example, if the Psephologist took data from all age groups in Pennsylvania the data may be incorrect due to the fact that younger generations (that may not be able to vote yet) usually have a different political outlook than older generations.
A basic frequency table consists of? a) Two columns, one listing all the categories of data and the second listing the frequency for each category b) One column, listing all the categories of data c) Two columns, one listing all the categories of data and the second listing the participants whose data is being recorded d) No columns, just quantitative data
Answer: A
What is the last guideline of the 8 guidelines that help you answer the question "should you believe a statistical study?" a) Look for bias in the sample b) Stand back and consider the conclusion c) Check that the results are resented fairly d) Beware of confounding variables
Answer: B
Which of the following best illustrates a simple random sample? a) Assigning a group and selecting a random sample b) A random sample drawn with a computer program c) Based off a random drawing of numbers d) Can have multiple entries for the drawing
Answer: B
Which of the following is an example of a retrospective study? a) Participants that are a part of the control and experimental groups all visit the same doctor's office for their yearly check up b) Participants in a study that do exercises daily and participants of a study that do not exercise. c) Participants of a study that are told to take vitamins and participants that were taking vitamins before the study. d) Please add (d) option
Answer: B there is no interference made by anyone, it is just by chance that the participants do or do not exercise daily. A is incorrect because it is an example of a prospective study. Researchers have picked the participants from the specific doctor's office, this is not a coincidence. C is incorrect because there is interference, researchers cannot advise or tell participants to do things for the benefit of the study.
Answer: B. The variables of interest in a statistical study are the items or quantities that the study seeks to measure.
Answer: B. The variables of interest in a statistical study are the items or quantities that the study seeks to measure.
Las Vegas, Nevada population had increased drastically in these past couple of years. Nearly 95% of apartments, houses, condo, and other permanent housings are occupied by new or old Las Vegas residents. Known for their extremely dry temperature, Las Vegas began establishing required air conditioner systems around the city. There are even mandated air conditioners in every residential housing in Las Vegas, Nevada. Yearly check-ins are highly recommended by the city non-profit official, Las Vegas HAVC Team, but are by law to fix any Las Vegas housing air conditioning. However, researched shows 10% of vacant or occupied residential homes do not have air conditioners. Do these data support researchers' conclusion? a) Yes, because researchers are part of Las Vegas County board. b) No, because 95% percentage of homes are occupied, and 10% housings do not have air conditioner. c) Yes, because Las Vegas HAVC are not required to fix Las Vegas residents air conditioner. d) No, because 95% of Las Vegas homes do not have air conditioners.
Answer: B; Explanation: B is the correct answer because the percentages do not add up. Supported by Guideline 6, every statement in the question is true and proves to support the incorrect research conducted. 85% of Las Vegas homes are occupied, meaning 15% of places are unoccupied. Research states 10% of vacant or occupied do not have air conditioners, which does not correlate with the results like in Guideline 7.
Which of the following situations would be determined to be participation bias? a) Poll surveys only republican registered voters b) Participation must fill out a survey to be in study c) Study is single-blinded d) Study is double-blinded
Answer: B; Reason: Participation bias occurs whenever people choose whether to participate.
A lab studies people's weight change after being given a pill used for weight loss. From the choices below, which types of statistical study does this experiment describe? a) Observational study b) Experiment c) Blinding d) None of the above
Answer: B; Reason: The researchers are giving a pill and placebo pill to a sample then observing the results.
Researchers have a body of members and have decided to split them into groups of two. They apply a treatment to one group and give the other a placebo. They will observe both groups to see the effects. This example illustrates? a. Observational study b. Retrospective study c. Experiment d. study
Answer: C
Simple random sampling is known as choosing a sample of items in a way they every sample of the same size has an equal chance of being selected, which of these is considered simple random sampling? a) Selecting every 10th member of the population b) Selecting people who are all in the same classroom c) Drawing randomly from a list of all homeowners d) Selecting a sample from different subgroups within a population
Answer: C
What is the first guideline that can help you answer the question "Should I believe a statistical study?" a) Consider the source. b) Look for problems in defining or measuring the variable of interest. c) Get a big picture view of the study. d) Consider the setting and wording in surveys.
Answer: C
In the following question, which part would be a 'confounding variable'? : A group of researchers studied if students learn better online or in-person. They randomly selected 100 students from a local high school to research. There were 24 females and the rest were males. They learned that students learned a lot better in-person rather than online. a) Randomly selected students b) The results c) How many females and males d) Selecting 100 students
Answer: C. How many females and males Variables that are not intended to be part of the study can make it difficult to interpret results properly. Such variables are often called confounding variables, be au e th y confound (confuse) a study's results.
How do you find the confidence interval from a survey or poll study? a) Add margin of error from sample statistic b) Subtract margin of error from sample statistics c) Add and subtract margin of error from sample statistics d) Add and subtract 1 from statistic
Answer: C; Reason: By adding and subtracting the margin of error from the sample statistic, we find a range of values, or a confidence interval
) Using the graph on pg. 319 of the text, what is the relative frequency for C grades? (fraction) a) 19/25 b) 1/25 c) 9/25 d) 0/25
Answer: C; Reason: The relative frequency for a category expresses its frequency as a fraction or percentage of the total. 9 out of the 25 students received a C grade, therefore the relative frequency is 9/25. Grade Frequency A 4 B 7 C 9 D 3 F 2 TOTAL 25
Abasi was observing the different qualities of certain vegetables. He studied the color, height, weight, and amount of time it takes to fully ripen. Out of all these qualities which of them are qualitative? a) Height b) Weight c) Color d) Time to ripen
Answer: C; The answer is C because it is the only quality that is not a numerical value.
Marcus wants to study how many kids got their parents gifts over the holidays. He went around his little brother's school and asked all the kids if they gave gifts to their parents. Some kids gave their parents gifts, while others gave hugs, kisses or spent time to their parents. What is the variable of interest? a) Kisses b) Hugs c) Time d) Gifts
Answer: D
Why are double blind experiments useful? a) They are conducted twice instead of once. b) They help researchers better determine the study's margin of error. c) They are simpler to conduct. d) The studies reduce possible external influences, as neither the participants nor the researchers know which participant is a part of which group.
Answer: D - By neither the participant, nor the researchers interacting with them knowing what group they are in, biases as an influence on the experiment is reduced. It helps to eliminate the problem of the placebo effect on part of the subject, and reduces the possibility of researcher influence on subjects. Explanation: a) Incorrect because double blind experiments do not have to be conducted more than once. b) The margin of error (Or confidence interval) is the sample statistic subtracted by the margin of error, so this is unrelated. c) Double blind experiments are usually harder to conduct than single blind studies, the answer is erroneous.
) What type of statistical study is most likely to be used if... A research wants to determine if a new herbal tea reduce the severity of sinus infections? a) Observational study b) Experiment c) Double blind experiment?
Answer: c, Double blind, in which some participants get the actual tea while others get a placebo. We need double-blind condition because the severity of the infection may be affected by mood or other factors that experimenters might inadvertently influence.
A Temple student wants to find out on average how many full-time Temple students work part-time jobs. This student surveys 100 individuals. Who ideally should these individuals be and where? a) They should live in Philadelphia and be randomly chosen b) They should be Temple students and be handpicked from the students major c) They should live in Philadelphia and be the student's friend d) They should be Temple students, and randomly chosen
Answer: d. This is because the student is particularly interested in how many Temple students on average work part time. It is also important that these individuals are randomly chosen because a particular student may have more friends that work, or a certain major may be full of more students who are able to juggle school and work all at once. In order to find the true average, it must be random and unbiased.
Which of these is a trustworthy study? a) A study about smoking leading to lung cancer with research funded by a cigarette company b) A study about school dropout rates with research coming from peer reviewed sources (CORRECT) c) A pre-election poll that surveyed only registered democrats d) A study that aims measures people's level of happiness
B is the correct answer because it is the least biased and has most measurable variables. The rest of the possible choices are either biased or have subjective variables.
In a study which determines that ice cream sales and car break ins are correlated, which is a possible cofounding variable that could explain these results? a) Car theft only happens where more ice cream is sold b) Car theft and ice cream sales increase in the summer months due to warmer weather (CORRECT) c) Ice cream sales increase because car thieves buy more ice cream d) Ice cream sales increase in the summer because people want ice cream after their car is broken into
B is the most the most correct answer, as it is the only choice that displays a variable that would affect both car break ins AND ice cream sales, that would make these two seem correlated.
Which of these would be an observational study? a) A study in which both control and treatment groups are present b) A study in which variables are altered by researchers c) A study in which researchers do not influence characteristics of the study d) A study in which a treatment is applied to some or all sample members
C is the correct answer because it describes an observational study; a study in which no modifications of characteristics take place and researchers simply observe sample members
To answer this multiple-choice question, make a selection that will best answer what is being asked. When conducting statistical research, it is sometimes beneficial for researchers and/or participants to be uninformed as to what group they belong to called blinding. Consider a common type of experiment in which researchers are looking to find how a certain drug effects people. Of the two types of blinding techniques, which scenario below is representative of a case in which this type of experiment is double-blind? a) Researcher(s) are aware which participants are in the control and treatment groups, whereas the participants are not aware of which group they belong to. b) The participants and researcher(s) are aware who is in the control group and who is in the treatment group. c) Neither the researcher(s) nor the participants know who makes up the control group or the treatment group. (correct answer) d) The participant is aware of which group they belong to, but the researcher(s) are not aware of who is in these groups.
C is the correct answer choice; To answer this question, the student would first need knowledge of the blinding process and why researchers might do it for their experiment. Secondly, the student needs to know the definition for single-blind and double-blind experiments, and with this knowledge can consider each answer choice. Additionally, the student could consider what type of experiments these methods of blinding are used in and can come to an answer choice with that knowledge as well. The correct answer is C, a double-blind experiment is one in which both the researcher(s) and participants are unaware of who makes up the control and treatment groups. Typically, double blinding occurs in experiments that test the effect of drugs.
1) Which of the following best describes the meaning being the sample of statistics? a) Numbers collected describing the characteristics of the amount of people found in the raw data b) Subset of the population in which the data is comprised c) Complete set of people or things being studied d) Important numbers of data that describe the population of those being studied
Correct Answer : B; Reason: represents the entirety of the population
A poll in order to find the average person's favorite color found that 42% of people's favorite color is blue with a margin of error of 9%. What is the actual percentage of people picking blue as their favorite color? a) Between 33% and 51% b) Between 44% and 51% c) Between 37% and 45% d) Between 33% and 42%
Correct Answer: A. Between 33% and 51%
) A poll asking students if they were in favor of better gun laws. A majority of the students answered yes. Should we conclude that students support just this view? a) Yes, these results support the view that gun laws should be stronger. b) No, these results are not accurate as it gives students limited choice. c) Yes, these results share no confounding variables which make it valid. d) Possibly, these results are conclusive in expressing the meaning and variable.
Correct Answer: B
A researcher is looking to determine how a college level math course affects their level of stress in the spring semester. a) What stressful student's favorite classes are, compared to their least favorite b) Stress levels c) How stressful it is looking for their classes on a large campus d) School stress
Correct Answer: B
Which of the following descriptions best characterizes Participation Bias? a) Participants who identify themselves as heterosexual join a study group that is researching the effects society has on people that identify themselves as a part of LGBTGIA+. b) Participants who identify themselves as Republicans, refused to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccinations. c) Participants that struggle sleeping at night willing join a study group about getting a full night's rest. d) Participants that struggle focusing in their classes join a study group about the eating habits of college students.
Correct Answer: B
Which of the following is an example of when a histogram graph would be used in a statistical study? a) Data showing the predictions of sales b) The monthly earnings of employees at a law firm c) The data depicting the amounts of water used in the United States d) Data showing the trend in sales
Correct Answer: B
A professional research group wants to know the average amount of hours of sleep an adult(25-50years old) with children versus adults with no children received. To complete this study the researchers take a random sample of 1000 parents and a random sample of 1000 non-parents. The random samples complete a survey asking how many kids they have(if any) and how many hours of sleep they receive. What common sampling method was used in this study? a) Systematic sampling b) Simple random sampling c) Stratified sampling d) Convenience sampling
Correct Answer: B This study took a random sample of two groups. You can easily eliminate convenience sampling due to the fact these samples were not convenient to gather, scattered across the country. You can also easily eliminate systematic sampling because these samples were not chosen by picking every 5th, 10th, etc. person. This study could be confused with stratified sampling because this study requires two different sample sets. This study could be formatted to complete a stratified sampling method. This is a simple random sampling method with two sample sets being used to simply be compared against the other.
A statistic states that more than half of victims of violence from poor households (51%) reported the victimization to police, compared to 45% of victims from high-income households. Should you believe this statistic? a) No, the variables make it impossible to know if it's accurate or not. b) Yes, the variables are research able to draw the connection. c) There is no way to know if this statistic is believable.
Correct Answer: B.
A poll in order to find the average person's favorite television streaming website found that 35% of people's favorite is Netflix with a margin of error of 9%. What is the actual percentage of people picking Netflix as their favorite streaming website? a) Between 33% and 40% b) Between 26% and 44% c) Between 20% and 40% d) Between 33% and 42%
Correct Answer: B. Between 26% and 44%
A research study on improving eyesight conducted by a professor utilizes a control group and a treatment group in which neither the participants or experimenters know who receives the placebo. What is utilized in this study? a) Single-Blinding b) Double-Blinding c) Retrospective Blinding d) Observational Blinding
Correct Answer: B. Double Blinding
A scientist is testing a new pill that increases hair and nail growth. There are 4 groups and each of them have been given a pill to take daily. Group B took the pill that increases hair and nail growth while the rest of the groups took candy pills. Which group is the treatment group? a) Group A b) Group B c) Group C d) Group D
Correct Answer: B; Group B is the only group that received the actual pill making the rest of the groups control groups.
What belongs in the first column of a frequency table a) Frequency b) Categories c) Cumulative frequency d) Relative frequency
Correct Answer: B; Reasoning: Each of these options do belong in the frequency table, but it is important to label the categories first to understand what the rest of the columns represent.
A student is doing a study on how many athletes deal with flat feet. They asked 5 random people on 5 different sports teams so that they could get a well-rounded sample. They found that 1-2 people had flat feet on every team. What type of statistical study is this? a) Simple random sampling b) Experiment c) Observational Study d) Systematic sampling
Correct Answer: C 1. The two basic types of statistical studies are observational study and experiment so that rules out A and B. 2. Because the student did not change or modify anything the study is a observational study and not a experiment.
Which of the following descriptions illustrates a retrospective study? a) A group of participants who are welders by profession are asked about their medical history every five years in order to study any cancerous effects left from fumes and radiation. b) Researchers compared participants that got a high school diploma and participants that did not. The people who got a diploma went on to get a higher education, and therefore 50% higher paying jobs than those who did not receive a diploma. c) A group of 50 participants who are welders by profession are asked about their medical history in order to study cancerous effects left from fumes and radiation. d) Researchers compared participants that got a high school diploma from lower income areas compared then to those who that got a high school diploma from higher income areas. The people who received diplomas from higher income areas were 15% more likely to have higher paying jobs compared to those that received diplomas from lower income areas.
Correct Answer: C. Researchers are observing the health history of welders who encounter cancer and will study participants that are not welders.
A research group wants to know how many individuals have driven while under the influence of alcohol in the state of Pennsylvania, and see if it is worth spending more money on educating youth of the effects of drinking and driving. Participants may be inclined to line on a question such as this. What guidelines does this issue fall under? a) Guideline 4 b) Guideline 5 c) Guideline 6 d) Guideline 7
Correct Answer: C; Reasoning: Guideline 6 is to consider the setting and wording of surveys. In a survey, it is best to avoid asking questions that participants are inclined to lie on due to insecurity, embarrassment, etc.
Cindy was doing research on popular music in 2005. She used website Billboard as her reference and found that artists such as Chris brown, Bruno Mars, Mario, and Rihanna were all popular artists at that time. She also found that some of these artists are not as popular today as they were back then. What kind of observational study is this? a) Systematic sampling b) Experiment c) Retrospective study d) Double-blind experiment
Correct Answer: C; Since the study it based on information that is from the past, the observational study is a retrospective study.
In observational studies such as surveys/opinion polls, there can be room for bias, as well as people who answer untruthfully, and people who choose not to respond. In these cases, what is used to find the true population parameter. a) Margin of error b) Sample statistic c) Confidence Interval d) Controls and cases
Correct Answer: C; The confidence interval is used to find the population parameter. First you take the sample statistic and add and subtract the sample statistic by the margin of error. The data from the low end to the high end contains the population parameter.
Which one of the following experiments requires the administrator and participants to be unaware of who receives the placebo and who does not? a) Placebo effect b) Single-Blind c) Double-Blind d) Retrospective Study
Correct Answer: C; The placebo effect is not a form of experiment, it is the effect of someone taking the placebo. A single-blind experiment only requires the participants to be unaware. A Retrospective study can simply be eliminated due to the fact it is a study and not an experiment. Double blind is the correct option because it requires the administrator and participant to be blind of who received the placebo.
Question 1 is a multiple-choice question designed to assess your ability to remember or recall basic and foundational pieces of knowledge related to this course. Please read the question carefully before reading the answer options. When you have a clear idea of the question, find your answer, and circle the letter of the best choice. Which of the following effectively describes an example of how to acquire a simple random sample? a) Selecting every 5th member of a class. b) Using student volunteers. c) A computer program that chooses students at random. d) Dividing the class into those who wear glasses and those who do not wear glasses.
Correct Answer: C; This answer is correct because a simple random sample chooses the sample in a way that everyone has a fair chance of getting chosen from the population. Letter A is an example of systematic sampling, letter B is an example of convenience sampling, and letter D is an example of stratified sampling.
In 2009 the United States Coast Guard had responded to 47,497 calls. From those calls 24,644 sorties were sent and saved 4,882 lives. Calculate what percentage of sorties resulted with saved lives? a) 20.2% b) 19.6% c) 19.8% d) 18.9%
Correct Answer: The correct answer is C. This is because of when you take 4,882 (lives saved) and then divide that by 24,644 (the sorties) you end up with 0.19810096. When this is then converted into a percentage it's actually 19.8% (rounded to the nearest tenth). Which then gives us what percentage of the sorties end with lives saved.
In the question below, you will be given a multiple-choice question that tests your recollection on the Margin of Error that normally given with the results of surveys and polls of statistical studies. When you finish reading the question carefully, select the answer you believe is the correct result to the problem. Only one answer provided below the question is correct. John is a researcher of clean energy for a private company. The head of his branch announced a poll is to be conducted on who thinks who will win between Madison and Eddie. Before the reveal of who won, the results of the poll are given, John sees that Madison is favored 61%, and the margin of error is between 52% and 70%. What is the margin of error percentage points? a) 70% b) 11% c) 52% d) 9%
Correct Answer: d; 1. You take the Statistic 61%; 2. From that you subtract the lower, 52%, or the higher, 70%, and subtract 61%; 3. The answer you receive should be 9%, which is the margin of error percentage points. [61%-52% = 9%] or [70%-61% = 9%]
) Question one is multiple-choice question designed to evaluate your ability to recall fundamental knowledge about Statistical studies. Please read the question carefully before selecting an option provided below. Deirdre is hoping to perform a statistical study on graduation rates of out-of-state woman in Arizona for her final, in doing this, she needs to pick a random sampling of out-of-state college woman from each university in the state. She decides to choose the 5th of every out-of-state woman from each university in the state. What type of sampling did Deirdre choose for her statistical study? a) Stratified Sampling b) Simple Random Sampling c) Convenience Sampling d) Systematic Sampling
Correct Answer: d; A Systematic Sampling is defined as "We use a simple system to choose the sample, such as selecting every 10th or every 50th member of the population." (298, Jeffrey O. Bennett and William L. Briggs). In the question, Deirdre's sample was taking every 5th out-of-state women at each individual university in Arizona, which is a systematic sampling.
A study on high school students surveyed freshman on what their post-graduation plans are. a) sectional biases b) Participation bias c) Study bias None of the above
Correct answer- A.) sectional bias
) Selected the correct problem in the study below. A Study was conducted and surveyed people asking them "how do you feel about our current president?" a) Confounding variables b) Ambiguous question c) Bad setting d) Participants bias
Correct answer- B. ambiguous question
A study conducted by the Marlbol tobacco company ask smokers what they favorite cigarette is? a) sectional biases b) Participation bias c) Study bias None of the above
Correct answer- b.) participation bias
What type of statistical study is most likely to lead to an answer for the question: Do seat belts save lives? a) It would be unethical to do an experiment in which some people were told to wear seat belts b) and others were told not to wear them. c) Observational study d) An experiment e) Double-blind experiment
Correct answer: A because this would be dangerous and unethical. Instead, we can conduct a retrospective study. People who wore seat belts in crashes represent the cases and people who did not wear them are the controls
When labeling a bar graph, which of the following are required? a) Group or bin data b) Titles on the x and y axis c) True 0 d) Spaces between bars
Correct answer: B) Titles on the x and y axis
Why is it important to look for and remove any as much bias as possible from a sample before using it? a) Bias will cause the results to be too accurate b) Bias will make the results not represent the population c) Bias will make the results of the sample no sense d) Bias will cause the results to show both sides of the spectrum.
Correct answer: B; Bias causes the results to be skewed in a certain direction, so it won't represent the entire population, instead it will only represent a small portion of the population.
Question below is a multiple-choice question designed to assess your ability to remember or recall basic and foundational pieces of knowledge related to this course. Please read the question carefully before reading the answer options. When you have a clear idea of the question, find your answer, and circle the letter of the best choice. Which of the following effectively describes one of the basic statistical studies, an observational study? a) Testing whether the effects of a new drug have on dementia b) Observing whether or not there are differences between a control group or treatment group c) Observing students in the classroom d) Observing the effects of vitamins on your health
Correct answer: C, due to the observation of a particular group without intervention and without the observation of the effects of a particular treatment
A research conductor in the communication and science disorder department at temple wants to conduct a study on hearing loss due to over-exposure to noise from headphones. They use the 9-diget owl id numbers to select the participants. They pull the owl id numbers from temple owl id database, so every student has an equal chance of getting selected through this computer-generated system. This sampling technique is which of the following? a) Representative sampling b) Systematic sampling c) Simple random sampling d) Stratified sampling
Correct answer: C.
What is Guideline 6? a) Beware of confounding variables b) Look for Problems in Defining or Measuring the Variables of Interest c) Look for Bias in the Sample d) Consider the Setting and Wording in Surveys
Correct answer: d, consider the setting and wording in surveys. This guideline is important to prevent inaccurate or dishonest responses.
A survey conducted by Hemp Farmers of America on the effects of marijuana found that 75% of users noticed an increase in their mood and productivity with only a 4% error. This survey was done through an optional internet poll for Americans from every state to take. Should this survey be trusted, why or why not? a) Yes, the survey was conducted by farmers to know how to allocate their plots of land b) No, the survey was conducted by a business that may be impartial c) No, the survey was conducted without a proper way to gauge who is taking the survey seriously d) No, since marijuana is not legal in all 50 states that the opinions of users are not reflective of the product itself.
The answer is B because marijuana is derived from hemp. Naturally, these businesses would want to portray information that increases consumption of their product or the ability to stock shelves. Although some may believe that d is the correct option the Farm Act of 2018 allowed for the legal production and consumption of hemp based products.
A group of researchers are conducting a study on how caffeine affects the body. The researchers ask for 50 people to partake in the experiment informing them that 40 people will be drinking caffeine in the morning and the other 10 people will not be drinking caffeine but will be taking a caffeine pill. This pill however, is actually just a harmless sugar pill with no caffeine. The experiment will commence in 1 week. What tactic are the researchers using by introducing the sugar pills? a. Control Group, the researchers are looking to see if the pills are more effective than caffeine. b. Placebo, the sugar pill is meant to trick participants into believing they are having caffeine. c. Observational Study, the researchers are simply trying to understand how caffeine affects the body. d. Placebo Effect, because some participants are taking the 'caffeine' pills they will be more energetic.
The answer is B because the researchers are using the pill to trick participants into believing that they are taking caffeine to create a control group. The answer cannot be D because of how the researchers haven't begun their experiment yet meaning that none of the participants are actively using/taking the placebo. It cannot be C either because of how the researchers are modifying the experiment to study a specific group of the population.
A researcher finds that on average, an individual has 1.2 million hair follicles. What type of data is this? a) Qualitative b) Relative c) Quantitative d) Cumulative
The answer is C, quantitative. Because the data is presented in numerical form, that makes it quantitative.
What is the margin of error? a) A range of values that contains the true population parameter b) A common observational statistical study c) A statistic that helps to understand likeliness of a sample statistics approximate population parameter d) An observational study that uses data from the past
The answer is C. On page 303, it states that the margin of error is there to aid us in determining how likely it is that the sample statistic contains the true population parameter
A nationwide poll is created. Anyone can respond but it is aimed toward those who regularly attend concerts and/or music festivals. What is this an example of? a) Participation Bias b) An observational study c) A control group d) Selection Bias
The answer is D. On page 310 it states that selection bias is when researchers select their sample in a way that does not accurately represent the population as a whole. Not every single person in the nation regularly attends concerts and/or music festivals.
) What is a variable of interest? a) Any item that can vary or take on different values b) A type of study where researchers observe characteristics of sample members c) The item a study seeks to measure d) A variable that is not intended to be a part of the study
The answer is c. Page 312 explicitly defines variable of interest as the items or quantities the study seeks to measure.
John is interested in the population of freshman and sophomore college students and how doing homework while watching television affects their focus. He waits outside Morgan Hall to ask students to participate in his study. What kind of sampling method is this? a) Simple random sampling b) Systematic sampling c) Stratified sampling d) Convenience sampling
The answer is convenience sampling because he is doing what is convenient to him, in order to find appropriate participants for his study. Most freshman and sophomore students live in resident halls, such as Morgan Hall so his placement there makes it easier to find participants.
) Jolyne wants to test the effectiveness of a new brand of energy drink. To do so, she separates participants into two groups. The first group is given the actual drink, while the other group is given a placebo version with no caffeine. After the testing period, she individually interviews participants from each group about their energy levels throughout the day. What form of Statistical study should Jolyne use? a) Retrospective Study b) Single-Blind Experiment c) Double-Blind Experiment (Correct) d) Observational Study
The answer to this question is c, double-blind experiment, as not knowing which people had the actual drink will prevent any bias that may influence the participants during the interviews.
Joseph wants to see how often people visit his local gym. To choose his sample, he waits at the doors and asks every fifth person who enters how many days a week they visit. What sampling method is Joseph using to conduct his research? a) Simple Random Sampling b) Convenience Sampling c) Systematic Sampling (correct) d) Stratified Sampling
The answer to this question is systematic sampling, because to choose his sample, Joseph picks members of his population (members at his local gym) at an interval of every five people.
Joey wants to test his invention of an instant inflatable life jacket versus a pullover one thats already on the market in order to determine which life jackets are the most suitable for young adults, between the ages of 13-18 years old who cannot swim. Half of the participants will wear the instant inflatable life vests whereas the other other half will use the name brand life vest. What is the most appropriate study to use? a) Observational study b) Double blind experiment c) Retrospective study d) Both B & C
The answer to this study is an observational study. This is true because we must observe how efficient the life jackets are in the water; if it keeps them afloat, if it allows them to feel comfortable in the water, etc. Double blind experiment would not be plausible because if neither the experimenter or the participant knows which one is the better life jacket, then someone could be harmed in the process of this study, for example, drowning. It would not be a retrospective study because he is not using prior data from the past to compare nor is he using participants who engaged in this behavior prior.
The following question is assessing your knowledge of the correct type of study when doing statistical research. A group of researchers want to investigate the origin of liver disease. They invite 150 participants with the diagnosis who provided their medical records and daily practices. With this information, what kind of study would best describe which research method of study researchers will practice to find out the origin of liver disease? a) Double-blind b) Retrospective (correct answer) c) Observational d) Survey
The correct answer Is b The student would first need to understand the circumstances of the experiment. They would then need to know what each type of study entails. From there, they must apply the study method to the sample study to interpret the correct answer. They will know that it is retrospective due to the participants providing official medical records from the past and the potential for a group of controls.
Jessica wants to do a study on whether or not students are more likely to cheat on their exams if the Professor leaves the room for five minutes. When asking the participants, they introduced the question, "Are you more likely to cheat on your exam if your Professor steps out for a few minutes?" What is wrong with this statement? a) By using the phrase, "cheating," it can cause the participants to give unhonest answers or exaggerate them b) It is not too specific c) Confounding variables can affect whether or not they decide to cheat or not, such as the exam topic d) The amount of time given to cheat may not be a reasonable enough time to which can cause people who don't usually cheat, to do so
The correct answer is A. This is true because certain wording can affect how individuals answer the question in the study. For example, if it was asked, "Do you cheat when a professor leaves the room?" those that usually do may not be truthful because they are trying to protect themselves from confidentiality.
) Question 1 is a multiple-choice question designed to assess your ability to remember or recall basic and foundational pieces of knowledge related to this course. Please read the question carefully before reading the answer options. When you have a clear idea of the question, find your answer, and circle the letter of the best choice. A survey was conducted on whether college students believe exams help them learn material. The survey discovered that 70% of students believe that tests do help them learn material. The survey had a margin of error of 3%. What was the confidence interval of this survey? a) From 68% to 72% b) From 67% to 73% c) From 73% to 76% d) From 70% to 73%
The correct answer is B because margin of error is + or - 3 on the percentage discovered. Therefore, 70 +/- 3, so the confidence interval is between 67% (70-3) and 73% (70+3).
A survey reveals 40% of Americans do not believe in climate change, with a margin error of 5%. What is the confidence interval? a) 30% to 40% b) 35% to 45% c) 40% to 45% d) 40% to 50%
The correct answer is B, because if you subtract 5 percentage points from 40%, you get 35%, and if you add 5 percentage points to 40%, you get 45%.
Which of the following is the correct confidence interval. Lucy conducted a study on how many babies says "mama" as their first word. She found that 67% of babies included in her study said "mama" as their first word. There is a 6 percentage point margin of error. a) 66% to 76% b) 61% to 73% c) 6% to 12% d) 60% to 66%
The correct answer is B. 61% to 73%. This is correct because in order to find the confidence interval, you must add the margin of error to the sample statistic, and then also subtract it to find the two percentages.
A study is conducted to find the amount of people who like Harry Styles' music. A researcher gives 200 paper surveys to a class of highschoolers and received 129 back. From those surveys the researcher concludes 85% of people like Harry Styles' music. How, if at all, is this experiment biased? a) This experiment has selection bias. b) This experiment has participation bias. c) This experiment has both selection and participation bias. d) This experiment is not biased.
The correct answer is B. Since the survey was not mandatory, only those who wanted to return their surveys, which most likely means those with a strong opinion on the subject. That leads to bias in the experiment.
Pick the survey question that is most likely to yield accurate results. a) Did you cheat on your exam? b) Is the school's academic honesty policy easily accessible to students? c) Did you follow the school's academic honestly policy? d) Have you reviewed the school's academic honesty policy?
The correct answer is B. This is worded in a way that does not put blame on the people taking the survey, such as option A (which people are bound to answer no to). The use of these questions will yield different results, however the question most likely to be answered, answered honestly, and answered without bias, is option B.
Question 1 is a multiple-choice question designed to assess your ability to remember or recall basic and foundational pieces of knowledge related to this course. Please read the question carefully before reading the answer options. When you have a clear idea of the question, find your answer, and circle the letter of the best choice. Which of the following words is the best example of a synonym for the phrase "confounding variables"? a) Independent variables b) Dependent variables c) Confusing variables d) Intended variables
The correct answer is C because none of the others apply due to the fact they are included in the experiment. Confounding variables are variables that you didn't intend on being a part of your experiment, they are confusing because they confuse the results of the experiment.
An experimental study is being conducted to see if reading more improves test scores. What could be a confounding variable? a) Reading b) Number of books read c) Time spent studying All the above
The correct answer is C because the amount of time you spend studying can also improve your test scores.
An experiment is being conducted on the use of a new drug that elevates your mood. The treatment group is given the actual drug, and the control group is given a placebo. Neither the participants nor experimenters know who is in which group. What kind of experiment is this? a) Observational b) Retrospective c) Double-blind d) Single-blind
The correct answer is C, double blind. This is because neither the participants or experimenters know who is in which group, which eliminates bias towards participants when being interviewed.
A survey on which school lunch is the most popular is being conducted among 500 high school students. Every 5th student from the sample is surveyed. What kind of sampling method is this? a) Simple random sampling b) Convenience sampling c) Systematic sampling d) Stratified sampling
The correct answer is C, systematic sampling since every nth person from the sample is being questioned.
For the following study, select the correct population, sample, and sample statistic. Mary wanted to know on average, how many female high schoolers watch the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. She conducted a study of 400 female students in her high school. 300 of the female students reported watching the show, while 100 reported not watching the show. This led Mary to the conclusion that 75% of female high schoolers in her school watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians. a) Population: 400, Sample: 300, Sample Statistic: 75% b) Population: All female highschoolers, Sample: 100, Sample Statistic: 25% c) Population: All female highschoolers, Sample: 400, Sample Statistic: 75% d) Population: 300, Sample: 100, Sample Statistic: 25%
The correct answer is C. The population is the complete set of what Mary is trying to research, in this case that would be all female high schoolers. The sample was 400 since she interviewed 400 female students at her school. Lastly, the sample statistic is 75%, as that was what she found when she interviewed her sample.
) A poll on the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in Pennsylvania is being conducted. Researchers survey patients in the Medical Marijuana Program. What kind of bias does this survey suffer from? a) Participation bias b) Observer bias c) Response bias d) Selection bias
The correct answer is D because the researchers only surveyed people who use marijuana and are also more likely to be in favor of legalizing it for recreational use.
The Democratic National Committee conducted a poll to discover whether Americans were in favor of legalization of Marijuana. The Committee asked, "Do you favor the legalization of recreational and medicinal use of Marijuana?". A large majority of Americans responded with yes, but should it be drawn that most Americans agree with this result? Which statistical guideline is being violated in this study? a) guideline 5; beware of confounding variables b) guideline 3; look for bias in the sample c) guideline 8; stand back and consider the conclusions d) guideline 7; check that results are presented fairly
The correct answer is D) check that results are presented fairly because this study is at risk of the Committee jumping to conclusions and basing their conclusions as most of the American opinion. Also, there is limited choice in options of answering the study question: yes or no.
If a bill that protects sea otters were to pass in the small town of Hamanaka it would need 63% of votes for approval. Based on a poll of the residents 59% of voters are in favor of this legislation with a margin error of 5%. Based on the poll which of these answers would be the margin error points necessary to ensure the bill's success? a) -4% b) +2% c) +3% d) +5%
The correct answer is D. This is because assuming the population that participated in the poll had 59% of the voters say they were in favor of the bill with a 5% error margin. This error margin allows for us to examen the other possible ways a population could vote based on the representation in the poll. By adding 5% to the 59% of favor votes in the poll we earn 64% which is enough votes to pass the bill.
In which of the following represents quantitative data? a) the height differences of fifth graders from ten nationwide schools b) the ranking of blueberry pie from one to five, five being most favorite and one being least favorite type of pie c) selecting a choice of five novels for which is most thrilling/suspenseful d) rating a Temple University course based on "Was this class taught well?" and having a ranking of answers ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree"
The correct answer is a) the height differences of fifth graders from ten schools. This is the correct answer because the data is numerical and contains different measurements. This is the only answer that has numerical data as well because although option b) seems to be numerical, the answers would be completely subjective and based on personal opinions rather than fact.
A 2020 study conducted by Gallup shows that there is an estimate of 31% of Democrats, 25% Republicans, and 41% Independents residing in the United States. However, there are a couple of different variables within the study including those who are registered Democrats, registered Republicans, and registered Independents. This study may be hard to interpret, however, because the percentages shown in Gallup's study only demonstrate the registered population, not including those who identify with a political party, but are not registered for several different reasons. What is the error of the study? a) the control group b) variables of interest c) confounding variables
The correct answer is b) variables of interest because the items or quantity that the study seeks to measure includes the amount of different political parties shown in the United States. However, it is hard to grasp a specific number of each party because some people are not registered, therefore data has a large margin of error. Thus, the study only depicts what registered voters' political parties are
) Assess this scenario and select the best answer choice out of the multiple-choice options. A study is being conducted on how effective espresso drinks are in giving people energy. It is investigating the effect of macchiatos, lattes and 5-hour energy. What is the confounding variable in this study and why? a) Lattes, they are unrelated and can easily throw off the focus and direction of the study. b) 5-hour energy, although this drink has links to an energizing effect, it is not an espresso drink, therefore can confuse the results of the study. (correct) c) Macchiatos, this drink has no connection to the study and doesn't receive links to energizing individuals, causing irrelevancy that a confounding variable would. Lattes, these are made with espresso, but are more milk based making no sense to what is being specifically studied.
The correct answer is b. The student would first have to assess which drinks were espresso and which one was not. Knowing 5-hour energy is not an espresso drink, they would then have to identify the definition of a confounding variable. Taking this into consideration, answer choice b represents the confounding variable and the correct explanation as to why it is one making this the best choice.
Consider an experiment designed to test whether cash incentives motivate people to register to vote. The researcher chooses two groups of young adults from inner-city Philadelphia. One group will get $15 for registering to vote while the other group does not receive any cash incentive for registering. The adults who receive the cash incentive are the___________? a) the control group b) the observation group c) the experiment d) the treatment group
The correct answer is d) the treatment group because they are receiving the "treatment" being tested. The experiment is what is being conducted in order to get a result, the control group is the group that is NOT receiving any treatment, and the observation group in an observational study is a type of study that measures characteristics of a sample group.
The following multiple-choice question provides a scenario of a study. With your knowledge of statistical studies, select the best answer choice that coincides with the scenario as described. The city of Philadelphia wants to improve urban planning, beginning with the amount of available parking there is for residents throughout the city. To do this, they conduct a study in which they go to popular areas within Center City and ask people if they are Philadelphia residents that own cars and actively drive in the city and their opinion on the matter. What kind of statistical study would this be and why? a) Experiment; Researchers are applying a question to participants and with this observable information they are able to come up with a solution for this urban planning problem. b) Observational; Researchers are actively trying to change the opinion of those they speak to, so that more spaces will be available for residents, even if they don't own a vehicle or don't feel there is a need for more parking. c) Experiment; The design of the study is fundamentally experimental due to its vulnerability to bias from participants asked as people will tend to voice the opinion they think the experimenter wants to hear upon knowledge that they are conducting research for a study. d)Observational; In this example the researcher would be statistically observing participants by interacting with them and trying to get them to voice their original thoughts and opinions, without trying to persuade or influence their ideas on the subject.
The correct answer is d. To come to this answer, student would first have to understand the scenario given above. This is survey-like experiment in which participants are randomly selected and asked the same question. With that knowledge, the student then must think about the types of statistical studies. The student would have to remember the definitions of these statistical studies and know that experiments are when participants are given some type of treatment and others are not whereas observational is a statistical study in which participants are observed in the sense of their opinions or feelings on certain things. The student would then apply this information to the question and arrive at letter d, as this response offers the correct type of statistical study, and correct definition.
Below this explanation, you will find a multiple-choice question which will test your ability to remember Statistical Tables and Graphs that you encounter in everyday life, and more importantly in Statistical studies. When you finish reading the question, please move onto choosing the option you determine is correct. Which of the following best illustrates a graph that has quantitative data, uses bars that touch to show data, and the width of the bar has a particular meaning? a) Line Graph b) Histogram Graph c) Bar graph d) Pie Graph
The correct answer is: b) Histogram Graph; The illustrated description of a graph best describes a histogram. A histogram is one of the graphs that uses quantitative data categories, uses bars to represent data, has no gaps(all bars touch), and the width of the bars has a particular meaning.
The following question will be multiple choice meant to test your ability to remember how to look for bias in the Sample. After you feel comfortable that you comprehend the question, please review the options below the question and choose which one you feel is correct. The researchers for a landfill company send a survey on whether they are concerned about the proximity of an old landfill. They send this survey to high and middle income households. Which one of the following eight guidelines for evaluating a statistical study describes looking for "Bias in a Sample?" Hint: this is an example of selection bias a) Guideline 3 b) Guideline 2 c) Guideline 7 d) Guideline 1
The correct answer to the question is: a) guideline 3; The reason why guideline 3 is the correct option to answer this question is that this is the guideline out of the eight total that describes "Looking for Bias in The Sample." It also addresses the types of bias you can encounter, Selection Bias and Participation Bias.
Dr. Lee was conducting an experiment in which she tested if melatonin helped adults fall asleep or not. She did a random sampling of about 1,000 households across America. Half received a melatonin tablet every night for a month whereas the other half did not receive any melatonin. The results found that melatonin did in fact help adults to fall asleep compared to the half that did not receive any melatonin, however the hours of sleep were still insufficient. In which of following options should Dr. Lee have done differently to achieve better test results? a) test a larger sample size b) set a lower time limitation on the experiment c) test a different sleep supplement d) measure the hours of sleep each participant was getting
The correct answer was a) test a larger sample size. There are millions of people in the United States and 1,000 people is a very small scale to grasp data on when living in a country that big. Also, the sample was randomly selected, but Dr. Lee could have randomly selected from every because the margin of error could be astronomical if subjects only came from urban areas and vice versa.
In the multiple-choice question below, you will read a scenario that asks you to recollect one of the Eight Guidelines for Evaluating a Statistical Study. After you feel you have fully comprehended the question, please go below to the multiple-choice options and choose the one you believe is correct. Only one answer is. In Julie's Statistics class, she is learning the basics of Statistical Studies and how to determine if they are reliable. Eight students, including her, are asked by the teacher to state if the guidelines are followed in the presented study. She is asked to answer these questions: did the study achieve its desired goals? Do the conclusions make sense? Are you able to exclude other explanations for the results? Do the conclusions have practical significance? What guideline is she explaining her answers for? a) Guideline 7 b) Guideline 5 c) Guideline 8 d) Guideline 1
The correct answer: c) guideline 8; The reason that this is the correct answer is "Guideline 8" is that it asks questions that make you view the Statistical study overall and consider the conclusions it has given you. These are the four questions Julie asks herself and presents to the class.
Is this scenario an example of an observational study, or an experiment? Doctor McMichaels weighs 50 of his patients before, and then again after, putting them on his new diet. The study shows that the McMichaels diet helped his patients lose on average, 3 pounds. a) Observational study b) Experiment c) Please add (c) and (d) options
This is an experiment, since the doctor is testing something (or applying something) to his sample. The correct answer would be B.
) A poll concerning how many people got the covid booster is conducted by interviewing people in 100 large cities, with 25 people randomly selected to be interviewed in each of those cities. What type of sampling was used? a) simple random sampling b) systematic sampling c) stratified sampling double blind experiment
a) Simple random sample because individuals were chosen from a larger set in which a subset of individuals were chosen randomly, all with the same probability.
Researchers want to conduct a study to learn about the transportation methods of people who work a full-time job in Pennsylvania. Researchers randomly interview men and women walking by Suburban Station. Does this sample suffer from bias? If so, what kind? a) No bias b) No bias, but the study has a confounding variable c) participation bias selection bias
d