Deck 9: Making Sense of the Numbers

Question 1

What is the mode in this group of numbers: 1,1,1,1,5,6,16,33,1

A)1
B)3
C)16
D)5

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What is the median in the following set of numbers: 1,16,35,14,7

A)1
B)35
C)14
D)7

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A bivariate table

A)is used infrequently.
B)works with variables that have 2 - 5 categories and data at nominal or ordinal levels of measurement.
C)is exactly the same as a scattergram.
D)uses percentages exclusively.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Inferential statistics uses___________to allow a researcher to test hypotheses,permit inferences from sample to population and to evaluate the strength of relationships among variables.

A)probability theory
B)levels of significance
C)multiple regression
D)statistical significance

Question 5

The results of Dr.Mottleȇs study indicate a level of statistical significance at the .01 level.What does this mean?

A)Results like these are due to chance factors only 1 in 100 times.
B)There is a 95 percent chance that the sample results are not due to chance factors alone.
C)The odds of such results based on chance alone are .05.
D)One can be 95 percent confident that the results are due to a real relationship in the population.

Question 6

A graph that allows a researcher to see bivariate relationships and usually has independent variables on the horizontal axis and dependent variables on the vertical axis is called a

A)percent table.
B)Bell curve.
C)scattergram.
D)covariation.

Question 7

A scattergram reveals three aspects of a bivariate relationship.Which of the following is NOT an aspect?

A)form
B)frame
C)direction
D)precision

Question 8

R-squared in multiple regression analysis is

A)always 20 percent.
B)considered good if it is at least .50.
C)based on improvement over zero.
D)never a helpful measurement.

Question 9

When using bivariate statistics,the researcher

A)can look at 2 variables together simultaneously and evaluate the statistical relationships between variables.
B)uses 8-10 variables at the same time.
C)uses a diagram and map together.
D)None of the above

Question 10

A type II error

A)is falsely accepting a null hypothesis.
B)is falsely rejecting a null hypothesis.
C)is the same as a type I error
D)None of the above

Question 11

When coding categories of variables it is essential to keep written records of coding rules in a

A)diary.
B)research log.
C)video tape.
D)codebook.

Question 12

What is the mean of the following set of numbers: 6,3,9

A)3
B)5
C)9
D)6

Question 13

After coding,a researcher needs to

A)write the research paper.
B)design a new trial.
C)finish the research.
D)clean the data.

Question 14

Statistical significance indicates

A)the probability of finding a relationship in sample data when there is none in the population.
B)the probability of not finding a relationship in sample data when there is none in the population.
C)the probability of not finding a relationship in sample data when there is one in the population.
D)the probability of finding a relationship in sample data when there is one in the population.

Question 15

Covariance means to vary together.What is the opposite of covariance in a bivariate relationship?

A)scattergram
B)anticovariance
C)univariance
D)statistical independence

Question 16

A skewed distribution has

A)the mean,median and mode exactly in the center of the bell curve.
B)has many cases at extremes of the curve.
C)is in the shape of a cup,otherwise known as a cup curve.
D)six curves stacked sideways across the field.

Question 17

Variation can be measured in three ways: range,percentile,and

A)mean.
B)median.
C)standard deviation.
D)mode.

Question 18

Multiple Regression Analysis results tell the researcher two things,the percentage of prediction accuracy and

A)length of time to calculate.
B)standard deviation.
C)scattergram accuracy.
D)size and direction of effects.

Question 19

The level of statistical significance

A)is not related to random error.
B)should be 5% or smaller by rule of thumb.
C)is irrelevant to inferential statistics.
D)is the same as standard deviation.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a technique to help decide if there is a relationship between two variables?

A)a scattergram
B)cross-tabulation
C)bell curve
D)measures of association

Question 21

Multiple regression analysis is only for interval- and ratio-level data.

Question 22

The arithmetic average is the most widely used measure of central tendency,it is also called what?

A)mode
B)central tendency average
C)median
D)mean

Question 23

The plot of a positive directional relationship on a scattergram looks like a diagonal line that begins in the lower left and goes to the upper right.

Question 24

The power of multiple regression is an ability to control for many variables simultaneously.

Question 25

Scattergrams can determine linear relationships.A positive relationship

A)is not possible.
B)is circular in shape.
C)looks like a diagonal line that begins in the lower left and goes to the upper right.
D)looks like a diagonal line that begins in the upper left and goes to the lower right.

Question 26

It is sufficient to say when showing an association between an independent variable and a dependent variable that the independent variable causes a dependent variable.

Question 27

A researcher gathering his/her own data needs to convert raw data into a computer friendly format or engage in data coding.

Question 28

Because standard deviation is not easy to interpret,Dr.Mottle uses another standard measure that expresses scores on a frequency distribution in terms of a number of standard deviations from the mean.What is Dr.Mottle using?

A)Z-score
B)X-score
C)mean score
D)standard deviation score

Question 29

Mr.Marsh discovers that the measure of association is zero in his data relationship.What does this mean?

A)He should stop the study right away and refuse to publish.
B)It means that there is statistical independence.The variables do not covary.
C)He has made a mistake in his data collection.
D)It means that there is strong covariation.

Question 30

Mr.Marsh lost his codebook at a meeting.Is this a problem? If so,why?

Question 31

What are three measures of central tendency?

Question 32

The distribution across the center of a curve can be measured three ways.What are they?

Question 33

A researcher shouldnȇt think about coding until halfway through the research process.

Question 34

A Z-score is a standardized measure that uses what two measures in one score?

Question 35

Levels of significance tell a researcher whether a relationship among variables is likely due to chance alone.

Question 36

If a researcher demands a very high standard of significance,he may make a mistake - saying there is no relationship in the population when in reality one exists.

Question 37

This measure is the most comprehensive measure of variability,giving an ȈaverageȈ difference between all scores and the mean.It is called what?

A)median
B)standard deviation
C)Z-score
D)mode

Question 38

Why does a researcher assign numbers to variable attributes or categories in each variable?

Question 39

Covariation and statistical independence are the same concept.

Question 40

Statistics refers both to a set of collected numbers such as existing statistics in the Statistical Abstract and a branch of applied mathematics.

Question 41

A___________is a graph that allows the researcher to see bivariate relationships.Usually the independent variable goes on the horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the vertical axis.

Question 42

Many naturally occurring phenomena fit the___________curve when data points are plotted.

Question 43

This coefficient tells the researcher the size and direction of effects in multiple regression analysis and is known as the___________coefficient.

Question 44

______________________is one of the most widely used statistical techniques for nonexperimental data analysis in professional research reports.

Question 45

When there is an absence of an association or covariation between two variables this is called what?

Question 46

A simple table showing how many,or what percent of the cases fall into each variable category is called___________.

Question 47

The___________of statistical significance tells the researcher the likelihood that results are due to chance factors - that is,that a relationship appears in the sample when there is none in the population.

Question 48

What is a control variable in a nonexperimental research study?

Question 49

A graph that allows a researcher to see bivariate relationships using an X and Y axis is called what?

Question 50

______________________indicates the probability of finding a relationship in sample data when there is none in the population.

Question 51

A scattergram reveals three aspects of a bivariate relationship:___________,direction and precision.

Question 52

A measure of spread around the center of distribution that gives the researcher the score at a specific place within the distribution is called a___________.

Question 53

If the level of significance is 0.001,this means that the results are due to chance factors 1 in
times?

Question 54

A___________error falsely accepts the null hypothesis when there is a relationship in the population.

Question 55

What three aspects of a bivariate relationship are revealed in a scattergram?

Question 56

This measure of central tendency requires that one half of the variables are above it and half are below it on a curve.This is called the___________.

Question 57

Bivariate relationships vary in their degree of___________.A very precise relationship occurs when all the cases fit right along the line that indicates the relationship and direction.The amount of spread among the points on the graph indicates___________(same as above).

Question 58

When more cases in a distribution curve are in the extreme upper or lower areas of the curve,the curve is no longer bell-shaped; it becomes___________.

Question 59

The spread around the center of a distribution can be measured three ways.The
gives the highest and lowest ends of a set of numbers.

Question 60

The statistical analysis technique used for nonexperimental data analysis in interval and ratio level data is called what?

Question 61

What is the purpose of multiple regression analysis? What two things does it tell a researcher?

Question 62

Discuss measurements used in distribution around the center of a curve: range,percentile,standard deviation,and Z-score.

Question 63

Mr.Marsh wants to see if smokers like to gamble at casinos.Once he has his data,he plots the information in a scattergram.What three aspects of the bivariate relationship will the scattergram reveal? Explain the significance of each.

Question 64

Discuss three measures of central tendencyNmean,median,mode.Which is the most widely used?

Question 65

What does an .01 level of significance mean?