Question 1

Statistical generalization means:

Accepted Answer

A) generalizing about an entire population based on what is known about a statistical property of a sample 
B) using an approximate statistical value instead of a precise one 
C) making up a statistic without any basis in fact 
D) saying that every member of a population has a certain property just because a statistic shows that most do 
E) manipulating a survey to obtain the results that you desire instead of objective results 
A) generalizing about an entire population based on what is known about a statistical property of a sample 
B) using an approximate statistical value instead of a precise one 
C) making up a statistic without any basis in fact 
D) saying that every member of a population has a certain property just because a statistic shows that most do 
E) manipulating a survey to obtain the results that you desire instead of objective results

Question 2

Which of the following statistics is a relative frequency?

Accepted Answer

A) Three of the kids from my class also live in my neighborhood. 
B) One out of every four babies born on Earth is Chinese. 
C) Hilda's book collection is worth $13,800 and she has 400 books, so that's $34.50 per book. 
D) There are four Cokes, two Pepsis, one Mountain Dew, and one Dr.Pepper in the refrigerator. 
E) This factory has produced over 200,000 baseball caps. 
A) Three of the kids from my class also live in my neighborhood. 
B) One out of every four babies born on Earth is Chinese. 
C) Hilda's book collection is worth $13,800 and she has 400 books, so that's $34.50 per book. 
D) There are four Cokes, two Pepsis, one Mountain Dew, and one Dr.Pepper in the refrigerator. 
E) This factory has produced over 200,000 baseball caps.

Question 3

Sometimes it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between two correlating variables due to the presence of a third variable that correlates with both of them.This third variable is called a _____ variable.

Accepted Answer

A) pure 
B) confounding 
C) surplus 
D) superfluous 
E) thwarting 
A) pure 
B) confounding 
C) surplus 
D) superfluous 
E) thwarting

Question 4

Which of the following statistics is a ratio?

Accepted Answer

A) The firefighters saved 23 people from the apartment fire. 
B) Seventy-five percent of my class is Christian, 5% Jewish, and 20% prefer not to answer. 
C) The most common score on the test was a 92%. 
D) Half of the plumbers in our city earn more than $52,000 per year, while the other half earn less. 
E) For every three weeks that I work, I earn one day of paid vacation. 
A) The firefighters saved 23 people from the apartment fire. 
B) Seventy-five percent of my class is Christian, 5% Jewish, and 20% prefer not to answer. 
C) The most common score on the test was a 92%. 
D) Half of the plumbers in our city earn more than $52,000 per year, while the other half earn less. 
E) For every three weeks that I work, I earn one day of paid vacation.

Question 5

If a statistical generalization has a small margin of error, that means:

Accepted Answer

A) it is completely unreliable 
B) it is close to the true value, but off from it by a little bit 
C) either it is the true value or it is very close to it 
D) it is extremely likely that it is identical to the true value 
E) the true value can never be known 
A) it is completely unreliable 
B) it is close to the true value, but off from it by a little bit 
C) either it is the true value or it is very close to it 
D) it is extremely likely that it is identical to the true value 
E) the true value can never be known

Question 6

Which of the following statistics is a ratio?

Accepted Answer

A) Half of all patients diagnosed with this cancer will live at least two years, while the other half will die earlier. 
B) There are 1.3 cars per household in our state. 
C) My local deli sells 28 different sliced meats. 
D) The average life expectancy in Japan is 82.5 years. 
E) The majority of popes have been Italian, but 63 were not. 
A) Half of all patients diagnosed with this cancer will live at least two years, while the other half will die earlier. 
B) There are 1.3 cars per household in our state. 
C) My local deli sells 28 different sliced meats. 
D) The average life expectancy in Japan is 82.5 years. 
E) The majority of popes have been Italian, but 63 were not.

Question 7

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Seventy-eight percent of the books in this library were written before 1938.

Accepted Answer

A) total 
B) median 
C) relative frequency 
D) distribution 
E) average 
A) total 
B) median 
C) relative frequency 
D) distribution 
E) average

Question 8

Is it generally more difficult to draw causal conclusions from an experiment or from an observational study?

Accepted Answer

A) equally difficult for both 
B) from an experiment 
C) from an observational study 
D) from an experiment if we are studying humans, but from an observational study if we are studying the natural world 
E) from an experiment if we are studying the natural world, but from an observational study if we are studying humans 
A) equally difficult for both 
B) from an experiment 
C) from an observational study 
D) from an experiment if we are studying humans, but from an observational study if we are studying the natural world 
E) from an experiment if we are studying the natural world, but from an observational study if we are studying humans

Question 9

Suppose we want to know how the population of an anthill varies over time.It is difficult to make a direct observation of how many ants are in an anthill, so which of the following would be the best proxy variable?

Accepted Answer

A) the number of ants seen each day in a nearby house 
B) the size of the ants 
C) the speed at which a nearby piece of fruit disappears 
D) the age of the anthill 
E) the rate at which ants exit the anthill 
A) the number of ants seen each day in a nearby house 
B) the size of the ants 
C) the speed at which a nearby piece of fruit disappears 
D) the age of the anthill 
E) the rate at which ants exit the anthill

Question 10

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Of the people in this stadium, 39% have black hair, 29% have brown hair, 19% have blond hair, 6% have red hair, 4% have white hair, and 3% are bald.

Accepted Answer

A) total 
B) ratio 
C) distribution 
D) average 
E) median 
A) total 
B) ratio 
C) distribution 
D) average 
E) median

Question 11

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Thirteen of the dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club are available at our pet store.

Accepted Answer

A) average 
B) median 
C) ratio 
D) relative frequency 
E) absolute frequency 
A) average 
B) median 
C) ratio 
D) relative frequency 
E) absolute frequency

Question 12

In order to establish a statistical correlation between a and E, we compare two groups that are basically the same, except that a is present in one and not present in the other.If it turns out that E is more common when a is present, is this enough to show that they correlate?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes, any slight difference in the presence of E proves a correlation. 
B) It depends on how big the difference is between the presence of E in the two groups. 
C) No, because it only proves a causal relationship, not a correlation. 
D) No, because a correlation could only be shown if a were present in both groups. 
E) No, because a correlation could only be shown if E were equally present in both groups. 
A) Yes, any slight difference in the presence of E proves a correlation. 
B) It depends on how big the difference is between the presence of E in the two groups. 
C) No, because it only proves a causal relationship, not a correlation. 
D) No, because a correlation could only be shown if a were present in both groups. 
E) No, because a correlation could only be shown if E were equally present in both groups.

Question 13

How does one find the median value in a class that has an even number of members?

Accepted Answer

A) There is no median value since only classes with an odd number of members have median values. 
B) Average the two most central values. 
C) Choose the lower of the two most central values. 
D) Choose the higher of the two most central values. 
E) Use the average of the entire class as the median value. 
A) There is no median value since only classes with an odd number of members have median values. 
B) Average the two most central values. 
C) Choose the lower of the two most central values. 
D) Choose the higher of the two most central values. 
E) Use the average of the entire class as the median value.

Question 14

Which of the following statistics is an absolute frequency?

Accepted Answer

A) Half of the apples that fell from the tree have rotted already. 
B) My uncle gives a tenth of his income to charity. 
C) For every month starting with a vowel, there are three starting with a consonant. 
D) Six members of the local Rotary Club are police officers. 
E) At this time of year, half of the honeybees in the hive are at least four weeks old and the other half are younger. 
A) Half of the apples that fell from the tree have rotted already. 
B) My uncle gives a tenth of his income to charity. 
C) For every month starting with a vowel, there are three starting with a consonant. 
D) Six members of the local Rotary Club are police officers. 
E) At this time of year, half of the honeybees in the hive are at least four weeks old and the other half are younger.

Question 15

Suppose that the following is a list of student test scores: 97, 89, 85, 82, and 80.What is the median value?

Accepted Answer

A) 97 
B) 80 
C) 85 
D) 86.6 
E) 84 
A) 97 
B) 80 
C) 85 
D) 86.6 
E) 84

Question 16

A statistic that is generalized from a sample will:

Accepted Answer

A) be completely useless 
B) be completely accurate 
C) always be misleading 
D) have a margin of error 
E) be more reliable than one based on a complete enumeration 
A) be completely useless 
B) be completely accurate 
C) always be misleading 
D) have a margin of error 
E) be more reliable than one based on a complete enumeration

Question 17

When a statistic is based on a sample, the sample should be:

Accepted Answer

A) made up of the most unusual members of the population 
B) at least 95% of the total population 
C) chosen on the basis of what the statistical value is expected to be 
D) as small as possible 
E) random 
A) made up of the most unusual members of the population 
B) at least 95% of the total population 
C) chosen on the basis of what the statistical value is expected to be 
D) as small as possible 
E) random

Question 18

An absolute frequency is a special sort of _____, and a relative frequency is a special sort of _____.

Accepted Answer

A) median; average 
B) average; median 
C) total; ratio 
D) ratio; total 
E) total; average 
A) median; average 
B) average; median 
C) total; ratio 
D) ratio; total 
E) total; average

Question 19

One difference between a confounding variable and a proxy variable is that:

Accepted Answer

A) confirming causal relationships is made more difficult by confounding variables and easier by proxy variables 
B) confirming causal relationships is made more difficult by proxy variables and easier by confounding variables 
C) confounding variables cannot be studied at all, while proxy variables can 
D) proxy variables cannot be studied at all, while confounding variables can 
E) confounding variables occur in nature, whereas proxy variables are always put in place by humans 
A) confirming causal relationships is made more difficult by confounding variables and easier by proxy variables 
B) confirming causal relationships is made more difficult by proxy variables and easier by confounding variables 
C) confounding variables cannot be studied at all, while proxy variables can 
D) proxy variables cannot be studied at all, while confounding variables can 
E) confounding variables occur in nature, whereas proxy variables are always put in place by humans

Question 20

In order for a frequency distribution to be meaningful, the classes into which things are being sorted must:

Accepted Answer

A) be limited to three 
B) be limited to five 
C) overlap with each other 
D) be chosen at random 
E) be well defined 
A) be limited to three 
B) be limited to five 
C) overlap with each other 
D) be chosen at random 
E) be well defined

Statistical generalization means:

Which of the following statistics is a relative frequency?

Sometimes it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between two correlating variables due to the presence of a third variable that correlates with both of them.This third variable is called a _____ variable.

Which of the following statistics is a ratio?

If a statistical generalization has a small margin of error, that means:

Which of the following statistics is a ratio?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Seventy-eight percent of the books in this library were written before 1938.

Is it generally more difficult to draw causal conclusions from an experiment or from an observational study?

Suppose we want to know how the population of an anthill varies over time.It is difficult to make a direct observation of how many ants are in an anthill, so which of the following would be the best proxy variable?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Of the people in this stadium, 39% have black hair, 29% have brown hair, 19% have blond hair, 6% have red hair, 4% have white hair, and 3% are bald.

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Thirteen of the dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club are available at our pet store.

In order to establish a statistical correlation between a and E, we compare two groups that are basically the same, except that a is present in one and not present in the other.If it turns out that E is more common when a is present, is this enough to show that they correlate?

How does one find the median value in a class that has an even number of members?

Which of the following statistics is an absolute frequency?

Suppose that the following is a list of student test scores: 97, 89, 85, 82, and 80.What is the median value?

A statistic that is generalized from a sample will:

When a statistic is based on a sample, the sample should be:

An absolute frequency is a special sort of _, and a relative frequency is a special sort of _.

One difference between a confounding variable and a proxy variable is that:

In order for a frequency distribution to be meaningful, the classes into which things are being sorted must:

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Explanation

Probability

Filters

Exam 14: Statistical Reasoning

Statistical generalization means:

Which of the following statistics is a relative frequency?

Sometimes it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between two correlating variables due to the presence of a third variable that correlates with both of them.This third variable is called a _____ variable.

Which of the following statistics is a ratio?

If a statistical generalization has a small margin of error, that means:

Which of the following statistics is a ratio?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Seventy-eight percent of the books in this library were written before 1938.

Is it generally more difficult to draw causal conclusions from an experiment or from an observational study?

Suppose we want to know how the population of an anthill varies over time.It is difficult to make a direct observation of how many ants are in an anthill, so which of the following would be the best proxy variable?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Of the people in this stadium, 39% have black hair, 29% have brown hair, 19% have blond hair, 6% have red hair, 4% have white hair, and 3% are bald.

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? Thirteen of the dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club are available at our pet store.

In order to establish a statistical correlation between a and E, we compare two groups that are basically the same, except that a is present in one and not present in the other.If it turns out that E is more common when a is present, is this enough to show that they correlate?

How does one find the median value in a class that has an even number of members?

Which of the following statistics is an absolute frequency?

Suppose that the following is a list of student test scores: 97, 89, 85, 82, and 80.What is the median value?

A statistic that is generalized from a sample will:

When a statistic is based on a sample, the sample should be:

An absolute frequency is a special sort of _____, and a relative frequency is a special sort of _____.

One difference between a confounding variable and a proxy variable is that:

In order for a frequency distribution to be meaningful, the classes into which things are being sorted must:

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Explanation

Probability

Filters

An absolute frequency is a special sort of _, and a relative frequency is a special sort of _.