Question 1

Which of the following is not a ratio?

Accepted Answer

A ratio compares two quantities, showing the relative sizes of two quantities. Choice B, "The number of boys in a choir group," does not compare two quantities but simply states a single quantity, making it not a ratio. Choices A, C, and D all involve comparisons between two quantities, fitting the definition of a ratio.

Question 2

Generally, when designing an experiment, a researcher tests the _________________, by examining whether the ____________ causes the ___________________.

Accepted Answer

When designing an experiment, a researcher tests a hypothesis by manipulating the independent variable and examining whether it causes changes or effects on the dependent variable. Therefore, B is the correct choice, as it correctly identifies the parts of an experiment that are evaluated, whereas the other options do not accurately reflect this relationship or use incorrect terms.

Question 3

Which of the following describes the quality of a representative sample is?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices are true descriptions of a representative sample. A representative sample closely resembles the population it is taken from, meaning that the characteristics of the sample are similar to those of the overall population. This allows for data from the sample to be generalized to the population, increasing the reliability of conclusions drawn from the sample data.

Question 4

Which of the following most likely requires the use of inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics are used to make predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample. Choice B, determining the average lifespan of a German Shepherd, likely requires inferential statistics because it involves generalizing from a sample of German Shepherds to the entire population of the breed. Choices A, C, and D involve descriptive statistics, which are used to describe the main features of a collection of data quantitatively without making predictions or inferences about a larger population.

Question 5

When collecting data from the population to draw a sample, you are forming a…

Accepted Answer

When collecting data from a population to draw a sample, you are forming a dataset. This dataset can then be used to perform statistical analysis, including both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Question 6

Why do we need descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics summarize data and tell us about various characteristics of a dataset, such as measures of central tendency, variability, and shape of the distribution. This information can help us understand the data better and make informed decisions. Descriptive statistics do not allow us to generalize to the population or make inferences about the true population parameter based on the dataset, which is the realm of inferential statistics.

Question 7

It is generally impractical to collect data from the entire population. But often times, scientists and researchers want to estimate true population parameters. This makes __________ particularly valuable.

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics are used to estimate population parameters by analyzing a sample from the population. This is more practical and cost-effective than collecting data from the entire population. Therefore, inferential statistics are particularly valuable in situations where the entire population cannot be studied.

Question 8

Inferential statistics allows researchers to draw conclusions about a ______________ based on a ______________.

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics involves using data from a sample to make generalizations about a larger population.

Question 9

A research team is examining the effects of stress on emotion regulation. They are particular interested in adolescents in high school, as puberty is a time that where emotions can vacillate quickly.
In this case, what is the population?

Accepted Answer

The research team is specifically interested in adolescents in high school, so the population being studied is high school students. B) Adolescents is a broader population that includes individuals who may not be in high school, and C) Students and D) Minors are also too broad and do not specify the age or educational level of the population being studied.

Question 10

A research team is examining the effects of stress on emotion regulation. They are particular interested in adolescents in high school, as puberty is a time that where emotions can vacillate quickly.
What is the dependent variable of this study?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in this study is the emotion regulation of the adolescents, as it is the outcome being measured in relation to their exposure to stress. The independent variable is stress.

Question 11

If the sample's composition is similar to that of the population, we say that it is a __________________ sample.

Accepted Answer

A representative sample accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population, making it the best choice for making generalizations and drawing conclusions about the population as a whole. A typical sample may not necessarily be representative, and a valid sample simply means that it measures what it is intended to measure, but it does not necessarily indicate if it is representative of the population. A descriptive sample is a type of research design rather than a type of sample composition.

Question 12

What is an extraneous variable?

Accepted Answer

An extraneous variable is one that can influence the outcome of an experiment but is not the variable of interest or intentionally studied. It can affect the relationship between the variables being examined, potentially confounding the results if not controlled.

Question 13

Jennifer reviewed the literature on research related to patients with anxiety disorders in clinical psychology. She designs a study assigning some patients to three different treatments and a control group with no treatment. She then measures anxiety symptoms 2 months after the treatment.
Treatment in this case is the…

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher, and in this case, it is the different treatments assigned to the patients. The dependent variable is what is being measured and affected by the independent variable, which in this case is the level of anxiety symptoms in the patients. Extraneous variables are variables that may affect the dependent variable, but are not being intentionally manipulated by the researcher, and control variables are variables that are kept constant throughout the study. Neither of these apply to the case described.

Question 14

Jennifer reviewed the literature on research related to patients with anxiety disorders in clinical psychology. She designs a study assigning some patients to three different treatments and a control group with no treatment. She then measures anxiety symptoms 2 months after the treatment.
Anxiety symptoms 2 months later is the…

Accepted Answer

The anxiety symptoms 2 months later are being measured and are therefore the dependent variable in the study. The independent variable is the different treatments being assigned to the patients, and the control group with no treatment serves as a reference point for comparison. Extraneous variables are factors that may impact the dependent variable, but are not being intentionally manipulated in the study. Control variables are any factors being intentionally kept constant throughout the study.

Question 15

Jennifer reviewed the literature on research related to patients with anxiety disorders in clinical psychology. She designs a study assigning some patients to three different treatments and a control group with no treatment. She then measures anxiety symptoms 2 months after the treatment.
Which of the following would be a hypothesis for this study?

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis that "Treatment can reduce anxiety symptoms" is the most appropriate hypothesis for this study, as it directly relates to the research question and the design of the study. The other options, such as "Anxiety symptoms are caused by prenatal stress during pregnancy" and "Treatment explains why anxiety disorders occur in some but not other individuals," may be valid hypotheses for other studies or questions, but they are not directly relevant to this particular study.

Question 16

Jennifer reviewed the literature on research related to patients with anxiety disorders in clinical psychology. She designs a study assigning some patients to three different treatments and a control group with no treatment. She then measures anxiety symptoms 2 months after the treatment.
Jennifer conducts her study and claims that one particular treatment is helpful to patients who suffer from anxiety disorder. Which of the following assumptions is she making?

Accepted Answer

Jennifer is assuming that her sample is representative of the population of individuals who suffer from anxiety disorder, which is necessary in order to generalize her findings to the larger population. She is not necessarily making assumptions about the representativeness of her sample to society at large, the presence of extraneous variables, or the quality of her statistical estimates.

Question 17

Jennifer reviewed the literature on research related to patients with anxiety disorders in clinical psychology. She designs a study assigning some patients to three different treatments and a control group with no treatment. She then measures anxiety symptoms 2 months after the treatment.
How many levels are there for the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable, which is the type of treatment, has four levels: three different treatments plus a control group with no treatment.

Question 18

In experimentation, it is generally the case that researchers are testing whether their ______________ are supported

Accepted Answer

In experimentation, researchers formulate hypotheses which they aim to test and hopefully support with their research. The other options do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of experimentation.

Question 19

How are chance errors best described?

Accepted Answer

Chance errors refer to random variations in the data that are not attributed to any systematic or identifiable cause. These errors are not avoidable and can occur due to many factors such as measurement error, sampling error, or natural variability in the population. Therefore, option B is the correct choice.

Question 20

The average IQ of the population is a ___________.

Accepted Answer

The average IQ of the population is a parameter because a parameter is a numerical characteristic of a population.

Quiz 1: Introduction: Statistics--Who Needs Them