Question 1

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 fundamental components of inferential statistics, which involves making predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample.

Question 2

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 collected directly from the company's employees through a survey is considered primary data because it is first-hand information gathered specifically for the purpose of the study.

Question 3

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 4

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 allows the Internet service provider to quickly reach and collect data from a large number of customers in a relatively short period, making it the fastest method among the options provided.

Question 5

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 6

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

Accepted Answer

Open-end questions allow respondents to answer in their own words, providing them with the greatest choice in how they respond, as opposed to selecting from predetermined options.

Question 7

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 are considered secondary data because they were collected by another organization for some purpose other than the current project, in this case, the decision to build a new plant.

Question 8

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-end questioning
C) Unstructured interview
D) Written questionnaire

Accepted Answer

A structured interview involves adhering to a predetermined set of questions, ensuring that each interview follows the same format and covers the same content, which is ideal for comparing responses across participants.

Question 9

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

Experiments are the most appropriate method for collecting data on stopping distances for tires with different tread types, as this allows for controlled testing and direct measurement of performance under various conditions.

Question 10

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 are most likely to generate the largest nonresponse because recipients may ignore or discard the survey, and there's no direct interaction to encourage participation.

Question 11

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 designed to identify and correct any issues with the survey instrument, such as confusing or leading questions, before it is distributed to the full sample. This helps ensure the reliability and validity of the survey results.

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

An experiment is the most suitable data collection tool for determining the effectiveness of different advertising layouts in generating additional sales. This method allows the company to manipulate the advertising layout variable and observe the changes in sales, thereby establishing a cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 13

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

Political polls that indicate the percentage of voters who will vote for a particular candidate use estimation to predict the percentage based on a sample of the population. Numerical analysis is also involved in processing and analyzing the data collected from the sample.

Question 14

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

The manager is using descriptive statistics, which involves summarizing and organizing data in an informative way, such as through charts and graphs, without making predictions or inferences about a larger population.

Question 15

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

Estimation is used to infer the population parameter based on sample data. In this case, the California Highway Patrol is estimating the average speed of drivers on a rural highway, which falls under the category of estimation.

Question 16

A consumer products company is considering introducing a new product nationally. To help make the decision, it first conducts 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

Conducting a test market by selling a product in one city before a national launch is an example of estimation. It allows the company to estimate potential sales, consumer response, and overall viability of the product on a larger scale based on the data gathered from the test market.

Question 17

A car manufacturer stated in its advertising that the gas mileage for its hybrids will be greater than 40 mpg on average. A consumer agency tested a sampling of the hybrids under a variety of conditions. Based on these tests, 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 involves hypothesis testing, where the claim of greater than 40 mpg is evaluated, and statistical inference, where conclusions about the population (all hybrids from the manufacturer) are drawn from the sample tested.

Question 18

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 used to determine if there is enough statistical evidence to support a specific claim, such as the average weight loss of 20 pounds.

Question 19

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 and organize characteristics of a data set, providing a clear overview of its properties through tables, graphs, or summary measures like mean and standard deviation, without drawing conclusions or making inferences about a larger population.

Question 20

A marketing researcher decides to perform in-depth interviews for ten individuals chosen from a group of twenty five consumers who taste tasted some new food products. In conducting a personal interview, what problem can result if the interviewer is arbitrarily decides who will be interviewed?
A) Nonresponses
B) Missing data
C) Bias
D) Poor response rate

Accepted Answer

If the interviewer arbitrarily decides who will be interviewed, it can introduce bias into the selection process, potentially skewing the results to reflect the preferences or characteristics of the selected individuals rather than the entire group.

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

Estimation and hypothesis testing are categories of:

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:

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

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

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?

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 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 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:

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

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

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 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 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:

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

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

A marketing researcher decides to perform in-depth interviews for ten individuals chosen from a group of twenty five consumers who taste tasted some new food products. In conducting a personal interview, what problem can result if the interviewer is arbitrarily decides who will be interviewed?