Knowledge Check Statistics #1

construct.

Martha conducts a research study in which she measures how long participants spend trying to solve an impossible problem-solving task before giving up as a measure of perseverance. In this example, perseverance is an example of a(n) _____. operational definition. independent variable. dependent variable. construct.

Students in an introductory art class are classified as art majors and non-art majors. Which scale of measurement is being used to classify the students?

nominal

a histogram or polygon

A researcher collects a sample of n = 20 Introductory Psychology textbooks and records the number of pages in each book. The results are then placed in a grouped frequency distribution table using intervals of 0-99 pages, 100-199 pages, 200-299 pages, and so on. If the results were converted into a frequency distribution graph, which kind of graph(s) would be appropriate? a bar graph a histogram or bar graph a histogram a histogram or polygon

parameter.

A researcher is curious about the average monthly car insurance bill for high school students in the state of Florida. If this average could be obtained, it would be an example of a _____. parameter. statistic. population. sample.

statistic

A researcher is interested in average first semester change in weight (gain or loss) for students at a local college. Thus, they record the individual change in weight for a small group of 25 freshman from this college during their first semester. Then, the researcher calculates the average change in weight during the first semester among these 25 students. The average is an example of a ______.

bar graph

After recording the final grade (A, B, C, D, F) for each individual in a class of N = 26 students, the professor would like to display the grade distribution in a frequency distribution graph. Which kind of graph should be used? bar graph histogram polygon pie chart

About an equal number of students had relatively high and relatively low scores.

Consider the distribution of exam scores for the first exam within a college course. If the set of exam scores forms a symmetrical distribution, what can be concluded about the students' scores? Most of the students had relatively high scores. Most of the students had relatively low scores. About an equal number of students had relatively high and relatively low scores. A substantial number of students had very high scores and a substantial number of students had very low scores.

levels of improvement in social skills among autistic children.

For an experiment comparing the effectiveness of two different teaching methods for improving the social skills of autistic children, the dependent variable would be the _____. experimental methodology. autistic children. teaching methods used to teach social skills. levels of improvement in social skills among autistic children.

4

For the following distribution of quiz scores, how many individuals had a score of X = 4? X f 6 1 5 6 4 4 3 4 2 2 1 2

21

For the scores in the following table, what is the value of ΣX 2? X f 3 1 2 2 1 4

49

For the scores shown in the following stem and leaf display, what is the highest score in the distribution? Stem and Leaf Display 4 159 3 098 2 89103 1 39 43 49 13 159

nominal or ordinal

If a distribution of scores is shown in a bar graph, the scores were measured using a(n) _____ scale of measurement. nominal or ordinal ordinal or interval interval or ratio nominal or interva

interval or ratio

If a set of scores is displayed using a smooth curve, which scale of measurement was used to measure the scores? nominal interval nominal or ordinal interval or ratio

discrete

If it is impossible to divide the existing categories of a variable, then it is an example of a(n) _____ variable. interval ordinal discrete continuous

on the right side

In a frequency distribution graph with negative skew, scores with the highest frequencies are _____ of the distribution. on the right side on the left side in the middle represented at two distinct peaks

make predictions and generalizations about populations.

Inferential statistics allow researchers to _____. describe data sets. make predictions and generalizations about populations. operationally define a construct. verify the validity of a research study.

Squaring takes place in one equation but not the other.

The mathematical expression of ΣX - 2 differs from the mathematical expression of Σ(X - 2) in each of the following ways except for which? The first step to solving each expression is different. The final step to solving each expression is different. Original scores are added together in one expression but not the other. Squaring takes place in one equation but not the other.quaring takes place in one equation but not the other.

ordinal

The participants in a research study self-report their sleep quality levels by choosing the response option that best characterizes their average sleep quality per night from the following response options: 1 = extremely low sleep quality, 2 = very low sleep quality, 3 = low sleep quality, 4 = extremely high sleep quality. Which measurement scale is being used to classify sleep quality?

positively skewed

What is the shape of the distribution for the following set of data? Scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5

13

What is the value of Σ(X + 1) for the scores 2, 3, 5?

45

What is the value of ΣX2 for the scores 2, 4, and 5?

continuous

Which kind of variable requires the use of real limits?

manipulation of one variable

Which of the following is a critical unique aspect of the experimental method when examining the relationship between two variables? manipulation of one variable prediction of one variable manipulation of two variables prediction of two variables

Two variables are measured, and there is only one group of participants.

Which of the following statements is consistent with a research study conducted with the correlational method? One variable is measured, and two groups are compared. Two variables are measured, and two groups are compared. One variable is measured, and there is only one group of participants. Two variables are measured, and there is only one group of participants.

positively skewed

Which term is used to describe the shape of a frequency distribution graph in which most scores pile up on the left-hand side of the graph and taper off to the right?

Percentile ranks are closely tied to which of the following terms?

cumulative percentages

The amount of time that it takes a person to solve a problem is an example of a(n) _____ variable.

continuous