Exam 1: Overview of Statistics

Bob said, "Since statistics cannot tell for certain whether one thing caused another, there is no point in even reporting probabilities." Argue both for and against Bob's statement.

Which is not a goal of the ethical data analyst?

Bob said, "Why study math and statistics? I'm majoring in human resources because it's people that are important in business, not numbers." Argue both for and against Bob's statement.

An ethical statistical consultant would not always:

Which is not a practical constraint facing the business researcher or data analyst?

"Bob must be rich. He's a lawyer, and lawyers make lots of money." This statement best illustrates which fallacy?

"Smoking is not harmful. My Aunt Harriet smoked, but lived to age 90." This best illustrates which fallacy?

A business data analyst needs a PhD in statistics.

Which is not an essential characteristic of a good business data analyst?

The science of statistics tells us whether the sample evidence is convincing.

"Circulation fell in the month after the new editor took over the newspaper Oxnard News Herald. The new editor should be fired." Which is not a serious fallacy in this conclusion?

Which best illustrates the distinction between statistical significance and practical importance?

How might statistics be useful in determining the correct width of doorways in a convalescent care facility so that 99 percent of the "typical" wheelchairs can pass through the doorway without coming closer than 6 inches on either side?

Which is least likely to be an application where statistics will be useful?

Which is not a likely task of descriptive statistics?

Statistical data analysis can often distinguish between real vs. perceived ethical issues.

Because 25 percent of the students in my morning statistics class watch eight or more hours of television a week, I conclude that 25 percent of all students at the university watch eight or more hours of television a week. The most important logical weakness of this conclusion would be:

Estimating parameters and testing hypotheses are important aspects of descriptive statistics.

Inconsistent treatment of data by a researcher is a symptom of poor survey or research design.

In business communication, a table of numbers is preferred to a graph because it is more able to convey meaning.