Deck 1: Introduction

Question 1

Descriptive: inferential as

A) approximate:exact
B) summarizing:accounting for chance
C) quantitative:qualitative
D) substantive:statistical

Answer 1

summarizing:accounting for chance

Question 2

The purpose of descriptive statistics is to

A) organize and summarize observations so that they are easier to understand
B) infer something about conditions in a population from study of a sample
C) to predict standing in one factor from knowledge of standing in another
D) to determine whether there is a real difference between two (or more) groups

Answer 2

organize and summarize observations so that they are easier to understand

Question 3

The branch of statistics concerned with chance factors associated with drawing a sample is known as

A) random statistics
B) population statistics
C) descriptive statistics
D) inferential statistics

Answer 3

inferential statistics

Question 4

The idea of a random sample is particularly important for

A) descriptive statistics
B) statistical inference
C) measuring degree of association
D) all of the above

Question 5

Suppose we are interested in the average reading achievement test score of the currently enrolled students in Edison Elementary School.

-The set of test scores for these children constitutes

A) an element
B) a sample
C) a parameter
D) a population

Question 6

Suppose we are interested in the average reading achievement test score of the currently enrolled students in Edison Elementary School.

-The set of test scores for Miss Grady's class constitutes

A) an element
B) a sample
C) a statistic
D) a variable

Question 7

Suppose we are interested in the average reading achievement test score of the currently enrolled students in Edison Elementary School.

-The average score of Miss Grady's class is a

A) sample
B) statistic
C) parameter
D) constant

Question 8

Suppose we are interested in the average reading achievement test score of the currently enrolled students in Edison Elementary School.

-The average score of all students in Edison School is a

A) sample
B) statistic
C) parameter
D) variable

Question 9

Parameter is to population as ____________ is to sample

A) element
B) constant
C) variable
D) statistic

Question 10

In an experiment, the variable that is manipulated by the investigator is called the

A) research variable
B) independent variable
C) dependent variable
D) statistical variable

Question 11

In an experiment, the dependent variable is

A) a variable that might affect the outcome
B) the variable manipulated by the investigator
C) an example of a secondary variable
D) the variable that is measured

Question 12

A research question is one that is about

A) theory
B) a numerical aspect of the observations
C) the subject matter under investigation
D) an abstract matter

Question 13

A statistical question

A) is developed from a research question
B) precedes development of a research question
C) is independent of the research question
D) is developed from the research conclusion

Question 14

In the ordinary course of investigation, statistical matters

A) precede research matters
B) follow research matters
C) intervene between the research question and the research conclusion
D) form the beginning and end of the study

Question 15

Which of the following recorded values is best viewed as a discrete variable?

A) a temperature of 123 degrees
B) an IQ of 121
C) a piston diameter of 3.1273 inches
D) a count of 36 telephones in a department store

Question 16

Scores for which of the following variables would necessarily be approximate numbers?

A) family size
B) annual income
C) arm length
D) units completed at the end of the first semester

Question 17

Once a set of measurements is recorded, they form a

A) discrete series
B) continuous series
C) set of exact numbers
D) population

Question 18

If the weight of three objects is reported to be 97.0 pounds, their average weight (97.0/3) should be reported as

A) 32 pounds
B) 32.3 pounds
C) 32.33 pounds
D) 32.3333 pounds

Question 19

A researcher is interested in studying hand-eye coordination of second-grade boys at Honey Island Elementary School. She selects four boys for study and finds that they all receive the same score. In this study, hand-eye coordination is

A) a quantitative variable
B) a qualitative variable
C) a quantitative constant
D) a qualitative constant

Question 20

A marketing analyst surveys the brand of cola drink preferred by adult women. Brand of cola drink is

A) a quantitative variable
B) a qualitative variable
C) a constant
D) an ordinal variable

Question 21

Four kinds of cola drinks form

A) a ratio scale
B) an ordinal scale
C) an interval scale
D) a nominal scale

Question 22

If five students are ranked from best to worst in terms of potential for graduate study, the ranks form

A) a ratio scale
B) an interval scale
C) an ordinal scale
D) a nominal scale

Question 23

The statement that a score of 120 represents a 20% improvement over a score of 100 is appropriate for

A) an equal interval scale
B) a ratio scale
C) an interval scale
D) a continuous variable

Question 24

If the scores 100, 120, and 140 are scores on an interval scale, which statement is true?

A) The score of 120 represents a 20% increase over the score of 100.
B) The score of 140 represents as much increase over 120 as 120 does over 100.
C) Both (a) and (b) are true.
D) Neither (a) nor (b) is true.

Question 25

The highest level of measurement that we can be sure a score on this multiple-choice examination meets has the characteristics of

A) a ratio scale
B) an interval scale
C) an ordinal scale
D) a nominal scale