Question 1

Which type of problem has occurred when inaccuracies exist in the values of the data recorded?
A) measurement error
B) nonresponse bias
C) selection bias

Accepted Answer

Measurement error occurs when there are inaccuracies in the values of the data recorded, often due to faulty instruments or human error.

Question 2

The way in which an interviewer asks a question about political party affiliation causes respondents to answer that they have no affiliation when they actually do. What type of problem has occurred?
A) measurement error
B) selection bias
C) nonresponse bias

Accepted Answer

The problem described is a measurement error because the way the question is asked affects the accuracy of the responses, leading to incorrect data about respondents' true political affiliations.

Question 3

A researcher studying malnutrition among children in a developing country collected weights of a random sample of children using a scale that she had set to give weights 2.5 kilograms less than the actual weight. Which statement best describes this situation?
A) Measurement error has occurred, and the researcher is guilty of unethical statistical practice.
B) Measurement error has occurred, but the researcher is not guilty of unethical statistical practice.
C) Measurement error has not occurred, but the researcher is guilty of unethical statistical practice.
D) Measurement error has not occurred, and the researcher is not guilty of unethical statistical practice.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher studying malnutrition among children in...

Question 4

A county planning commission is attempted to survey 1500 households from the counties 400,000 households. A random sample was selected and surveys were mailed to the randomly selected households, but only 1075 were returned. The inability to collect data from the 425 households that didn't return the survey would be considered which type of sampling problem?
A) selection bias
B) nonresponse bias
C) measurement error 2 Unethical Statistics

Accepted Answer

Nonresponse bias occurs when a significant number of selected participants do not respond to a survey, potentially skewing the results if the non-respondents differ in relevant ways from respondents.

Question 5

A student completing a research project for a criminal justice class obtained a radar gun for determining automobile speeds and recorded the speeds of automobiles passing a fixed location over a period of several hours. The student was unaware that the device needed to be recharged after two hours of use and that the speeds recorded after two hours were not reliable. What type of problem has occurred?
A) measurement error
B) selection bias
C) nonresponse bias

Accepted Answer

The problem that occurred is a measurement error because the radar gun was not functioning correctly after two hours, leading to inaccurate speed recordings.

Question 6

A university was interested in student reaction to a proposal to spend more on athletic scholarships and less on academic scholarships. 35 student athletes were surveyed. What type of problem has occurred?
A) selection bias
B) nonresponse bias
C) measurement error

Accepted Answer

The problem is selection bias because the survey only included student athletes, who are likely to have a vested interest in the outcome, rather than a representative sample of the entire student body.

Question 7

Define statistical thinking.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define statistical thinking....

Question 8

A health food company has the following statement on their new product packaging: "Prevents all types of cancer!" (Fact: Past studies have shown that some ingredients in the new product have been know to possibly reduce the risk of many types of cancer). Discuss why it is unethical to make this statement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A health food company has the following...

Question 9

What is meant by selection bias?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by selection bias?...

Question 10

Because of the possible legal consequences, many people in a sample of the U.S. population chose not to participate in a survey regarding illegal drug use. What type of problem has occurred?
A) nonresponse bias
B) selection bias
C) measurement error

Accepted Answer

Nonresponse bias occurs when individuals selected for the survey do not participate, leading to a sample that may not be representative of the population. In this case, the fear of legal consequences led to non-participation, causing nonresponse bias.

Question 11

Give an example of unethical statistical practice.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give an example of unethical statistical practice....

Question 12

A middle school was interested in surveying their students to find out opinions about the schools media center. To facilitate data collection, the homeroom period was extended 30 minutes to allow everyone in the school ample time to respond to a short questionnaire. Unfortunately, it was learned after the surveys had been completed that all honors students in the middle school were on an all-day field trip and away from school for the entire day. The exclusion of their input into the survey would be considered which type of sampling problem?
A) selection bias
B) nonresponse bias
C) measurement error

Accepted Answer

The exclusion of the honors students from the survey results in selection bias because a specific group of students was not included in the sample, potentially skewing the results.

Question 13

A watchdog group is investigating how people are treated during the foreclosure process. Surveys were mailed to a random sample of 300 people who had recently been threatened with foreclosure. 75 of the surveys were returned by the postal service because the intended recipients had moved and left no forwarding address. What type of problem has occurred?
A) nonresponse bias
B) selection bias
C) measurement error

Accepted Answer

Nonresponse bias has occurred because a significant portion of the sample (those who moved) did not respond, potentially skewing the results if their experiences differ from those who did respond.

Quiz 1: Statistics, Data, and Statistical Thinking

Which type of problem has occurred when inaccuracies exist in the values of the data recorded?

The way in which an interviewer asks a question about political party affiliation causes respondents to answer that they have no affiliation when they actually do. What type of problem has occurred?

A researcher studying malnutrition among children in a developing country collected weights of a random sample of children using a scale that she had set to give weights 2.5 kilograms less than the actual weight. Which statement best describes this situation?

A university was interested in student reaction to a proposal to spend more on athletic scholarships and less on academic scholarships. 35 student athletes were surveyed. What type of problem has occurred?

Define statistical thinking.

What is meant by selection bias?

Because of the possible legal consequences, many people in a sample of the U.S. population chose not to participate in a survey regarding illegal drug use. What type of problem has occurred?

Give an example of unethical statistical practice.