Question 1

Ping Golf, Inc. conducts a study in which they use a probability sample of 600 golfers. They examine the data from the sample and calculate that 28 percent of them own Ping golf clubs. The 28 percent is:

Accepted Answer

The 28 percent is the sample statistic because it is a result calculated from the data of a sample, rather than a characteristic of the entire population of golfers.

Question 2

Roman letters, such as s, p, and b, are typically used to represent:

Accepted Answer

Roman letters are typically used to represent sample statistics, while Greek letters are used for population parameters.

Question 3

The proper command sequence in SPSS to generate a confidence interval for a mean is:

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence is ANALYZE; COMPARE MEANS; ONE-SAMPLE t TEST, where you can specify the confidence interval for the mean.

Question 4

The proper command sequence in SPSS to generate a confidence interval for a percentage is:

Accepted Answer

SPSS does not have a direct command sequence specifically for generating a confidence interval for a percentage.

Question 5

A 99 percent confidence interval allows us to say that if we took many, many samples from the population:

Accepted Answer

A 99 percent confidence interval means that if we were to take many, many samples from the population, 99 percent of these samples would contain a range that would include the population parameter. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 6

Which of the following refers to a measure of the variability in the sampling distribution based on what is theoretically believed to occur if we were to take a multitude of independent samples from the same population?

Accepted Answer

Standard error is a measure of the variability in the sampling distribution based on the theoretical belief of what would happen if we take multiple independent samples from the same population. Multiple variance analysis, standard variance, confidence error, and independent error are not related to this concept.

Question 7

Values computed from information provided by a sample are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Values computed from information provided by a sample are called statistics. Parameters, on the other hand, are values computed from information provided by a population. The terms "Greek parameters" and "Roman parameters" are not commonly used in statistics. "Sample parameters" is not a commonly used term either, as parameters are typically associated with populations rather than samples.

Question 8

________ is the process of using sample information to compute an interval that describes the range of a parameter such as a population mean or the population percentage.

Accepted Answer

Parameter estimation is the process of using sample information to compute an interval that describes the range of a parameter such as a population mean or the population percentage. This interval is called a confidence interval and it is a range of values within which the true parameter value is expected to fall, with a certain degree of confidence.

Question 9

Researchers use ________ to estimate the population parameter within a range because there is always sampling error.

Accepted Answer

Confidence intervals are used to estimate the population parameter within a range because sampling error is always present. Confidence intervals provide a range of values in which the true population parameter is likely to occur based on the sample data.

Question 10

Values that are computed from a complete census and are considered precise and valid measures of the population are called:

Accepted Answer

Parameters are values that are computed from a complete census and are considered precise and valid measures of the population.

Question 11

Statisticians make estimates of population parameters that may be either:

Accepted Answer

Statisticians make estimates of population parameters such as means or percentages, and not dollars or cents, positive or negative, or subjective or negative. The estimates aim to be as objective as possible based on the available data.

Question 12

When referring to Greek parameters of the sample data, statisticians use:

Accepted Answer

Greek parameters such as mu (μ) and sigma (σ) are used to denote population parameters, not sample data. Sample statistics are typically denoted by Latin letters like x̄ (sample mean) and s (sample standard deviation).

Question 13

If you have five friends who tell you they all have had a great experience with their purchase of a Chevrolet, and you used this evidence to decide to buy a Chevrolet, you would be using:

Accepted Answer

You are using inference because you are drawing a conclusion based on the experiences of your friends, assuming that your experience will be similar.

Question 14

Which of the following refers to a set of procedures in which the sample size and sample statistics are used to make estimates of population parameters?

Accepted Answer

Statistical inference refers to the process of using sample statistics to make inferences or estimates about population parameters. This involves using probability theory and hypothesis testing to draw conclusions about the population based on the information obtained from a sample.

Question 15

All other variables held constant, a 95 percent confidence interval will give us a ________ range, as opposed to a 99 percent confidence interval.

Accepted Answer

A 95 percent confidence interval is narrower than a 99 percent confidence interval because it requires less certainty, thus allowing for a smaller range of values.

Question 16

Two types of statistical inference presented in Chapter 16 of your textbook are:

Accepted Answer

Chapter 16 of the textbook presents two types of statistical inference: parameter estimates and hypothesis tests. These inferential techniques are used to make conclusions about a population based on sample data. Parameter estimation involves using sample statistics to estimate the value of a population parameter, while hypothesis testing involves testing a claim or hypothesis about a population parameter using sample data. Both techniques are essential for making generalizations about a population based on limited sample data.

Question 17

When computing standard error, if the sample size increases, then the standard error:

Accepted Answer

As the sample size increases, the standard error decreases. This is because a larger sample size provides more precision in the estimate of the population parameter, resulting in a smaller standard error.

Question 18

Which of the following refers to a form of logic in which you make generalizations about an entire class based upon what you have observed about a small set of members of that class?

Accepted Answer

Inference involves making generalizations about a whole class based on observations from a smaller set of that class.

Question 19

If a researcher wishes to have a 95 percent confidence interval, he/she should use a standard error value of:

Accepted Answer

A 95 percent confidence interval corresponds to a z-score of 1.96, which is the standard error value required for the calculation of the confidence interval. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 20

When computing standard error, if the variance (standard deviation)increases, then the standard error:

Accepted Answer

The standard error is calculated by dividing the standard deviation by the square root of the sample size. Therefore, as the variance (standard deviation) increases, the standard error increases as well.

Quiz 16: Generalizing a Sample's Findings to its Population and Testing Hypotheses About Percents and Means