Exam 1: Introduction and Data Collection

The amount of time a student spent studying for an exam is an example of a continuous variable.

Referring to Table 1-1, the possible responses to the question "Are you happy, indifferent, or unhappy with the performance per dollar spent on the videocassette recorder?" are values from a

A sample is the portion of the universe that is selected for analysis.

The Human Resources Director of a large corporation wishes to develop an employee benefits package and decides to select 500 employees from a list of all (N = 40,000) workers in order to study their preferences for the various components of a potential package. The 500 employees who will participate in this study constitute the______ .

A study is under way in Yosemite National Forest to determine the adult height of American pine trees. Specifically, the study is attempting to determine what factors aid a tree in reaching heights greater than 60 feet tall. It is estimated that the forest contains 25,000 adult American pines. The study involves collecting heights from 250 randomly selected adult American pine trees and analyzing the results. Identify the sample in the study.

Problems may arise when statistically unsophisticated users who do not understand the assumptions behind the statistical procedures or their limitations are misled by results obtained from computer software.

The quality ("terrible," "poor," "fair," "acceptable," "very good," and "excellent") of a day care center is an example of a nominal scaled variable.

A continuous variable may take on any value within its relevant range even though the measurement device may not be precise enough to record it.

The classification of student class designation (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) is an example of

The average number of units earned per semester by college students is suspected to be rising. A researcher at Calendula College wishes to estimate the number of units earned by students during the spring semester at Calendula. To do so, he randomly selects 100 student transcripts and records the number of units each student earned in the spring term. Identify the variable of interest to the researcher.

Tim was planning for a meeting with his boss to discuss a raise in his annual salary. In preparation, he wanted to use the Consumer Price Index to determine the percentage increase in his real (inflation-adjusted) salary over the last three years. Which of the 4 methods of data collection was involved when he used the Consumer Price Index?

Marital status is an example of a numerical variable.

The universe or "totality of items or things" under consideration is called

Faculty rank (professor to lecturer) is an example of discrete numerical data.

A professor computed the sample average exam score of 20 students and used it to estimate the average exam score of the 1,500 students taking the exam was an example of inferential statistics.

An insurance company evaluates many numerical variables about a person before deciding on an appropriate rate for automobile insurance. How long a person has been a licensed driver is an example of a(n)______ numerical variable.

Researchers are concerned that the weight of the average American school child is increasing implying, among other things, that children's clothing should be manufactured and marketed in larger sizes. If X is the weight of school children sampled in a nationwide study, then X is an example of

The Commissioner of Health in New York State wanted to study malpractice litigation in New York. A sample of 31 thousand medical records was drawn from a population of 2.7 million patients who were discharged during the year 1997. The collection, presentation, and characterization of the data from patient medical records are examples of ________.

Most colleges admit students based on their achievements in a number of different areas. The total SAT score achieved by a student is an example of a(n)_________ numerical variable.

An insurance company evaluates many numerical variables about a person before deciding on an appropriate rate for automobile insurance. The number of claims a person has made in the last 3 years is an example of a(n)______ numerical variable.