Question 1

Based on a survey of 400 students in a university in which 20 percent indicated that they were business majors.The university student newspaper reported that "20 percent of all the students at the university are business majors." This report is an example of
A)a sample.
B)a population.
C)statistical inference.
D)descriptive statistics.

Accepted Answer

The report uses data from a sample (400 students) to make a generalization about the entire university's student body, which is an example of statistical inference.

Question 2

Which of the following types of questions provide the respondent with the greatest choice in responding to a question?
A)Open-ended questions
B)Close-ended questions
C)Multiple choice questions
D)True/false questions

Accepted Answer

Open-ended questions allow respondents to provide any answer they choose, without limiting their options. This provides them with the greatest choice in responding compared to close-ended questions, which provide a limited set of predetermined responses, or multiple choice and true/false questions, which provide a finite set of possible answers.

Question 3

In developing and conducting a survey,what is the purpose of the pre-test phase?
A)To make sure that the cost of developing the survey instrument is not too great
B)To generate initial data for analysis
C)To catch any problems with the questionnaire before it is fully administered
D)To make sure that the respondents like the issues being addressed by the survey

Accepted Answer

The pre-test phase is conducted to catch any issues or problems with the survey questionnaire before it is fully administered. This can include identifying confusing or unclear questions, technical issues with the survey software, or unexpected responses from participants. By conducting a pre-test, researchers can ensure that their survey instrument is reliable and valid before launching it on a larger scale.

Question 4

A company conducted a survey of its employees to determine their level of satisfaction with various company policies.The data collected from this survey are:
A)primary data.
B)secondary data.
C)experimental data.
D)census data.

Accepted Answer

The data was collected directly from the employees through a survey, which means it is primary data. Secondary data would be data collected by someone else, like information from a previous survey or a published report. Experimental data refers to data collected as part of a controlled scientific experiment. Census data would be data collected from every member of a given population, and would likely not be the case in a company survey.

Question 5

The Dalton Company has recently made a decision to build a new plant in Denver.In making this decision it used data supplied by the U.S.Census Bureau.For the Dalton Company,these data are examples of:
A)primary data.
B)secondary data.
C)reliable data.
D)experimental data.

Accepted Answer

The data supplied by the U.S. Census Bureau is an example of secondary data, which is data that has already been collected by someone else and is being used by the Dalton Company in their decision-making process. Primary data, on the other hand, refers to data that is collected by the company itself for a specific purpose. Reliable data simply refers to data that is accurate and trustworthy, but does not specify whether it is primary or secondary. Experimental data pertains to data collected through controlled experiments or studies, which is not relevant to the scenario presented.

Question 6

Recently,a major tire manufacturer stated in its advertising that its tires with a new tire tread design will last more than 50,000 miles on average.A consumer agency collected a subset of these tires and tested them in very controlled conditions.Based on this test,the agency concluded that the manufacturer was justified in making this claim.The process described is an example of:
A)descriptive statistics.
B)hypothesis testing.
C)statistical inference.
D)Both B and C are correct.

Accepted Answer

The process described involves both hypothesis testing (testing whether the manufacturer's claim is justified) and statistical inference (drawing conclusions about the population of all tires based on a sample). Therefore, both options B and C are correct. Descriptive statistics (option A) typically involves summarizing and describing data without making any inferences or conclusions.

Question 7

When the California Highway Patrol states that a study of drivers on a rural highway shows that the average speed is between 62.5 mph and 64.5 mph,they are most likely basing this statement on:
A)descriptive statistics.
B)estimation.
C)hypothesis testing.
D)graphical analysis.

Accepted Answer

The statement is based on estimation since CHP is providing a range of values rather than a specific value for the average speed.

Question 8

In conducting a personal interview,what problem can result if the interviewer is allowed to arbitrarily decide who should be interviewed?
A)Nonresponses
B)Missing data
C)Bias
D)Poor response rate

Accepted Answer

Allowing the interviewer to arbitrarily decide who should be interviewed can result in bias. The interviewer may have personal preferences or beliefs that influence their selection, causing the data gathered to be skewed or unrepresentative of the population being studied.

Question 9

A consumer products company wants to interview customers regarding a new product.If it wishes to adhere to a predetermined pattern of questions in the interview,which of the following would likely be used?
A)Structured interview
B)Open-ended questioning
C)Unstructured interview
D)Written questionnaire

Accepted Answer

A structured interview adheres to a predetermined pattern of questions, which would be appropriate for the company's goal of wanting to ask consistent and specific questions about the new product. Open-ended questioning and unstructured interviews allow for more flexibility in the discussion but may not provide the necessary consistency needed for the company's research. Written questionnaires may also be structured, but they do not provide the opportunity for follow-up questions or clarification.

Question 10

A consumer products company is considering introducing a new product nationally.To help make the decision,it first conduct a test market by selling the product for a few months in one city.This is an example of:
A)descriptive statistics.
B)charts and graphs.
C)estimation.
D)hypothesis testing.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A consumer products company is considering introducing...

Question 11

For which data collection method is it most important to have a polished-looking survey form?
A)Telephone survey
B)Written questionnaire
C)Experimental design
D)Personal interview

Accepted Answer

A polished-looking survey form is most important for a written questionnaire because the appearance can influence the respondent's willingness to complete the survey and their perception of its legitimacy and importance.

Question 12

A company is interested in determining which of several advertising layouts is most effective at generating additional sales.The data collection tool that would most likely be used in this situation is:
A)telephone survey.
B)mail questionnaire.
C)experiment.
D)observation.

Accepted Answer

To determine which advertising layout is most effective, an experiment would be the best approach. This would involve randomly assigning participants to see different layouts and then measuring the subsequent sales generated. This method would provide the most accurate and reliable data for determining which layout is most effective. Telephone surveys and mail questionnaires may be useful for other types of data collection but are less appropriate for this particular question. Observation may also be useful but may not provide the necessary control needed for a valid experiment.

Question 13

Estimation and hypothesis testing are categories of:
A)inferential statistics.
B)descriptive statistics.
C)numerical measurement.
D)statistical charts.

Accepted Answer

Estimation and hypothesis testing are both techniques used in inferential statistics, which involves drawing conclusions and making predictions about a population based on a sample of data. Descriptive statistics, on the other hand, involves summarizing and describing the characteristics of the data itself. Numerical measurement and statistical charts are both tools used in both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Question 14

Which of the following data collection methods is most likely to generate the largest nonresponse?
A)Mail surveys
B)Direct observation
C)Telephone surveys
D)Personal interviews

Accepted Answer

Mail surveys typically have a higher nonresponse rate compared to other methods because individuals may choose not to participate or may simply forget to respond.

Question 15

A tire manufacturing company is interested in obtaining data on stopping distances for each of the three main tread types made by the company.The data collection method that would be most likely used in this case would be:
A)telephone survey.
B)written questionnaire.
C)demographic surveying.
D)experiments.

Accepted Answer

The best choice in this case would be experiments. The company can conduct controlled experiments where they can test the stopping distances for each of the three main tread types under a variety of conditions such as different speeds, different road surfaces, and different weather conditions. This method would provide the most accurate and reliable data on stopping distances for each tread type. Telephone survey, written questionnaire, and demographic surveying are not appropriate data collection methods for this type of study as they don't provide the necessary details required to measure the stopping distance of tires.

Question 16

The Biltmore Hotel manager is getting ready to make a presentation that she hopes will justify adding additional staff.As part of the presentation,she has constructed charts and graphs.The general type of statistical analysis she is using is:
A)hypothesis testing.
B)estimation.
C)inferential statistics.
D)descriptive statistics.

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics involves organizing, summarizing, and presenting data in a meaningful way. The manager is using charts and graphs to describe the current staffing situation and demonstrate the need for additional staff, which falls under the category of descriptive statistics. The other options (hypothesis testing, estimation, and inferential statistics) involve making conclusions about a larger population based on a sample, which does not appear to be the focus of the manager's presentation.

Question 17

The company that makes a new weight loss pill claims that people who use this pill according to instructions will lose an average of 20 pounds during a four-month period.They say the claim is based on a study of 300 people.Which of the following statistical methods was most likely used to arrive at the company's conclusion?
A)Estimation
B)Hypothesis testing
C)Histograms
D)Bar charts

Accepted Answer

Hypothesis testing is most likely the method used to arrive at the company's conclusion. The study likely had a null hypothesis that the weight loss pill does not result in an average weight loss of 20 pounds, and an alternative hypothesis that it does. The study would then test the null hypothesis through statistical analysis and determine whether to reject or fail to reject it based on the data collected.

Question 18

An Internet service provider wants to determine its level of customer satisfaction.The best data collection method to obtain the results most quickly is:
A)experiment.
B)telephone survey.
C)mailed survey.
D)personal interview.

Accepted Answer

A telephone survey would allow for a large sample size and quick collection of data. Experiment, mailed survey, and personal interviews would either be time-consuming or not provide a large enough sample size.

Question 19

A political poll that is used to indicate the percentage of voters who will vote for a particular candidate makes use of which of the following?
A)Hypothesis testing
B)Numerical analysis
C)Estimation
D)Both B and C.

Accepted Answer

A political poll that indicates the percentage of voters for a particular candidate makes use of both numerical analysis and estimation techniques. Numerical analysis is used to calculate the percentage of people who are likely to vote for a particular candidate based on the sample of the population surveyed. Estimation is used to estimate the percentage of the entire population who will vote for the candidate based on the percentage of the sampled population who expressed support. Hypothesis testing is not typically used in political polls.

Question 20

The summaries of data,which may be in forms of tabular,graphical,or numerical,are referred to as
A)inferential statistics.
B)descriptive statistics.
C)statistical inference.
D)report generation.

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics summarize the data in a clear and understandable way, often through tables, graphs, and numerical measures such as mean, median, and standard deviation. Inferential statistics, on the other hand, draw conclusions about a larger population based on a sample of data. Statistical inference refers to the process of using data from a sample to make inferences about a population. Report generation is a broader term that refers to the creation of reports, which may or may not involve summarizing statistical data.

Quiz 1: The Where, why, and How of Data Collection

Based on a survey of 400 students in a university in which 20 percent indicated that they were business majors.The university student newspaper reported that "20 percent of all the students at the university are business majors." This report is an example of

Which of the following types of questions provide the respondent with the greatest choice in responding to a question?

In developing and conducting a survey,what is the purpose of the pre-test phase?

A company conducted a survey of its employees to determine their level of satisfaction with various company policies.The data collected from this survey are:

The Dalton Company has recently made a decision to build a new plant in Denver.In making this decision it used data supplied by the U.S.Census Bureau.For the Dalton Company,these data are examples of:

When the California Highway Patrol states that a study of drivers on a rural highway shows that the average speed is between 62.5 mph and 64.5 mph,they are most likely basing this statement on:

In conducting a personal interview,what problem can result if the interviewer is allowed to arbitrarily decide who should be interviewed?

A consumer products company wants to interview customers regarding a new product.If it wishes to adhere to a predetermined pattern of questions in the interview,which of the following would likely be used?

A consumer products company is considering introducing a new product nationally.To help make the decision,it first conduct a test market by selling the product for a few months in one city.This is an example of:

For which data collection method is it most important to have a polished-looking survey form?

A company is interested in determining which of several advertising layouts is most effective at generating additional sales.The data collection tool that would most likely be used in this situation is:

Estimation and hypothesis testing are categories of:

Which of the following data collection methods is most likely to generate the largest nonresponse?

A tire manufacturing company is interested in obtaining data on stopping distances for each of the three main tread types made by the company.The data collection method that would be most likely used in this case would be:

The Biltmore Hotel manager is getting ready to make a presentation that she hopes will justify adding additional staff.As part of the presentation,she has constructed charts and graphs.The general type of statistical analysis she is using is:

An Internet service provider wants to determine its level of customer satisfaction.The best data collection method to obtain the results most quickly is:

A political poll that is used to indicate the percentage of voters who will vote for a particular candidate makes use of which of the following?

The summaries of data,which may be in forms of tabular,graphical,or numerical,are referred to as