Question 1

An example of a variable would be&#10;A) height&#10;B) weight&#10;C) the number of inches in a foot&#10;D) a and b, but not c

Accepted Answer

Variables are quantities that can change or vary across individuals or over time. Height and weight are examples of variables because they can differ from person to person and can change over time. The number of inches in a foot is a constant (always 12), not a variable.

Question 2

Techniques which are used for describing small or large amounts of data in abbreviated form, are called&#10;A) descriptive statistics&#10;B) inferential statistics&#10;C) predictive statistics&#10;D) probability estimates

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics are used to summarize and describe small or large amounts of data in an abbreviated form. Inferential statistics, on the other hand, are used to make inferences and draw conclusions about a larger population based on a sample of data. Predictive statistics are used to make predictions about future events or outcomes. Probability estimates are used to quantify the likelihood of a particular event occurring.

Question 3

The founding of probability theory is popularly credited to&#10;A) the Chevalier de Mere&#10;B) Sir Francis Galton&#10;C) Karl Pearson&#10;D) Blaise Pascal

Accepted Answer

Blaise Pascal is credited with founding probability theory through his correspondence with Pierre de Fermat on the problem of points. Pascal also developed the concept of expected value and the theory of probability distributions. While the Chevalier de Mere and Sir Francis Galton made contributions to probability theory, they are not credited with founding it. Karl Pearson was a statistician who further developed probability and statistics in the 19th and 20th centuries, but he did not found probability theory.

Question 4

The researcher using inferential statistics always makes predictions that are based on having measured&#10;A) a population&#10;B) a sample&#10;C) the entire group being predicted&#10;D) in inferential statistics predictions are never made

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics involves making predictions about a population based on a sample that has been measured. Therefore, the researcher must have measured a sample, not the entire population being predicted.

Question 5

The first attempt to employ statistical techniques for estimating population parameters was designed in order to&#10;A) estimate beer-drinking tastes in Dublin, Ireland&#10;B) calculate the odds for casino gambling in France&#10;C) calculate the probability of certain exponential functions&#10;D) all of these

Accepted Answer

The first attempt to employ statistical techniques for estimating population parameters was made by Sir William Petty in the late 17th century in order to estimate the population size and the number of beer-drinking individuals in Dublin, Ireland.

Question 6

When a researcher attempts to estimate the characteristics of an entire population on the basis of sample measures, the techniques employed are called&#10;A) inferential statistics&#10;B) descriptive statistics&#10;C) skewed statistics&#10;D) b and c, but not a

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics involve using sample data to draw conclusions about a larger population. This is in contrast to descriptive statistics, which simply describe the characteristics of a given sample or population. Skewed statistics would not be a relevant term in this context.

Question 7

In comparing the safety of allowing children to visit friends whose parents own a gun versus those parents who have a swimming pool, it was found that
a. there was no safety difference between the two
b. children were safer at the homes with swimming pools
c. children were safer at the homes with guns
d. more parents had guns than swimming pools

Accepted Answer

The question does not provide enough information to determine a specific answer. The safety of children in either situation would depend on various factors such as the secure storage of the gun, the supervision around the swimming pool, the children's understanding of safety measures, among others.
However, generally speaking, both guns and swimming pools present potential risks to children, and safety measures are crucial in both scenarios. For example, homes with guns should have them securely stored and locked away, with ammunition stored separately to prevent accidental access by children. Similarly, homes with swimming pools should have safety measures such as fencing, pool covers, and supervision to prevent drowning incidents.
If there is a particular study or statistical data that has been provided, the answer would be based on the findings of that research. In the absence of such information, one cannot accurately determine whether children are safer at homes with guns or swimming pools, or if there is no safety difference between the two, or if more parents have guns than swimming pools. Each situation requires careful consideration of the safety precautions in place and the responsible behavior of the adults in charge.

Question 8

The inherent fallacy in the argument that capital punishment is not a deterrent (since pockets were being picked even at the public hanging of a pickpocket) is that&#10;A) pickpockets were never hanged&#10;B) you can't compare groups of unequal sizes&#10;C) there was no comparison or control group&#10;D) you can't make comparisons with only nominal data

Accepted Answer

The argument lacks a comparison or control group to accurately determine the deterrence effect of capital punishment. Simply observing pickpockets being caught during a public hanging does not provide enough evidence to make a conclusion about the effectiveness of the death penalty as a deterrent. Therefore, the argument is flawed because it lacks a comparison group to prove or disprove the deterrence effect of capital punishment.

Question 9

Anything that can be measured and observed to vary is called&#10;A) a constant&#10;B) a variable&#10;C) an integer&#10;D) all of these

Accepted Answer

Variables are defined as anything that can be measured or observed to vary. Constants are defined as quantities or values that do not change. Integers are a subset of numbers that include positive and negative whole numbers and zero. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Question 10

The statement that one can prove anything with statistics is only true when&#10;A) the data have been faked&#10;B) the reader is naive regarding statistical procedures&#10;C) the statement is always true&#10;D) the statement is never true

Accepted Answer

Statistics can be manipulated in a variety of ways, and it is possible to selectively present data, omit important information, or use flawed statistical methods to draw incorrect conclusions. Therefore, it is important for readers to have a critical understanding of statistical procedures and be able to discern reliable statistical information from unreliable information.

Question 11

William Sealy Gossett, the statistician at the Guinness Brewing Company, published his works using the pen name&#10;A) Professor&#10;B) Blaise Pascal&#10;C) Cicero&#10;D) Student

Accepted Answer

The answer of William Sealy Gossett, the statistician at the...

Question 12

When we say that the actual average height of all adult females in the U.S. is known to be 5' 6&#34;, we are using&#10;A) predictive statistics&#10;B) probability statistics&#10;C) inferential statistics&#10;D) descriptive statistics

Accepted Answer

The answer of When we say that the actual average...

Question 13

Descriptive statistics are designed to infer population values.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Descriptive statistics are designed to infer population...

Question 14

The goal of the researcher using inferential statistics is to&#10;A) make better-than-chance predictions&#10;B) predict the characteristics of the entire group, based on measures taken on a smaller group&#10;C) describe the difference between the highest and lowest score&#10;D) a and b, but not c

Accepted Answer

The answer of The goal of the researcher using inferential...

Question 15

The first attempt to employ probability theory in a practical setting was developed in order to&#10;A) predict the results of presidential elections&#10;B) predict economic forces in the market place&#10;C) predict how consumers will evaluate new products&#10;D) make winning bets in the gambling casinos

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first attempt to employ probability theory...

Question 16

Since poll results are based on a sample size which is less than the population size, generalizing from the sample to the population demands&#10;A) data graphing&#10;B) inferential statistics&#10;C) descriptive statistics only&#10;D) leap of faith&#10;

Accepted Answer

The answer of Since poll results are based on a...

Question 17

Whenever two events occur simultaneously, such as increasing numbers of joint bank accounts and increasing numbers of felonies, one must be careful not to&#10;A) assume that one event is the cause of the other&#10;B) assume that any correlation exists between them&#10;C) assume that the data have been reported honestly&#10;D) all of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of Whenever two events occur simultaneously, such as...

Question 18

One author suggests that the best way to compare the safety of autos versus planes is on the basis of&#10;A) the total number of deaths per year for each mode of travel&#10;B) the total number of individuals who drive versus fly.&#10;C) the per-hour death rate for the two modes of travel&#10;D) none of these, since travel rates are not comparable.&#10;

Accepted Answer

The answer of One author suggests that the best way...

Question 19

Statistics as a general field is divided into two sub-areas. They are&#10;A) predictive and inferential&#10;B) descriptive and inferential&#10;C) nominal and ordinal&#10;D) none of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of Statistics as a general field is divided...

Question 20

The difference between inferential and predictive statistics is that&#10;A) inferential extrapolates, whereas predictive does not&#10;B) predictive extrapolates, whereas inferential does not&#10;C) inferential assumes that a sample has been measured, whereas predictive makes no such assumption&#10;D) there is no difference between them

Accepted Answer

The answer of The difference between inferential and predictive statistics...

Question 21

Inferential statistical techniques and predictive statistical techniques are identical.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Inferential statistical techniques and predictive statistical techniques...

Question 22

Descriptive statistics provide symbolic techniques for describing both large and small groups of data.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Descriptive statistics provide symbolic techniques for describing...

Question 23

Descriptive statistics are especially important in using polling data to infer population characteristics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Descriptive statistics are especially important in using...

Question 24

Inferential statistics involve the measuring of a sample and then using this value for predicting to the population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Inferential statistics involve the measuring of a...

Deck 1: Introduction to Statistics