Deck 8: Generalizing From Research Results: Inferential Statistics

Question 1

A curve that is flat relative to the normal curve is described as ______.

A) neokurtic
B) platykurtic
C) leptokurtic
D) monokurtic

Answer 1

B

Question 2

For a sampling distribution (the distribution of the sample results), the standard deviation is referred to as the ______.

A) standard distribution
B) standard sample
C) standard error
D) standard curve

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A data plot showing a positive skew has ______.

A) the "tail" of the plot in the low numbers
B) the "tail" of the plot in the high numbers
C) a flat profile
D) a high profile

Answer 3

B

Question 4

When data are skewed, which of the following statistics are NOT necessary to adequately describe the data?

A) mean
B) median
C) mode
D) chi-square

Question 5

For a t test comparing two groups that consist of different individuals, we use the t test for ______ samples.

A) independent
B) dependent
C) asymmetric
D) symmetric

Question 6

A curve that is steep or high relative to the normal curve is described as ______.

A) neokurtic
B) platykurtic
C) leptokurtic
D) multikurtic

Question 7

The formula for standard deviation for a set of scores includes ______.

A) the population from which the sample is chosen
B) the median for the set of scores
C) each individual score
D) the mode for the set of scores

Question 8

For a t test comparing two groups that consist of the same individuals, we use the t test for ______ samples.

A) independent
B) dependent
C) asymmetric
D) symmetric

Question 9

The probability of sampling any value under the normal curve that is less than the mean is ______.

A) 0
B) 0.25
C) 0.50
D) 1.0

Question 10

The probability of sampling any value under the normal curve that is greater than the mean is ______.

A) 0
B) 0.25
C) 0.50
D) 1.0

Question 11

In a normal distribution, most values are ______.

A) in the middle of the distribution
B) evenly distributed
C) to the right of the mean value
D) to the left of the mean value

Question 12

Inferential statistics tell us that as long as we are prepared to accept a known level of uncertainty in our projections, ______.

A) we do not need huge sample sizes
B) we do need huge sample sizes
C) sample size is irrelevant
D) we can use any sampling method

Question 13

A range of values calculated from a sample is called the ______.

A) confidence metric
B) confidence interval
C) error interval
D) confidence level

Question 14

A data plot showing a negative skew has ______.

A) the "tail" of the plot in the low numbers
B) the "tail" of the plot in the high numbers
C) a flat profile
D) a high profile

Question 15

A tri-modal profile means that a distribution of data plots out showing _______ peak(s).

A) zero
B) one
C) two
D) three

Question 16

The z distribution allows us to calculate ______.

A) the strength of the relationship between two variables
B) the strength of the relationships among three or more variables
C) the value of one variable given a value for a related variable
D) the probability that a sample has captured the characteristics of the population from which it was drawn

Question 17

The probability of sampling any value under the normal curve is ______.

A) 0
B) 0.25
C) 0.50
D) 1.00

Question 18

What does the t test compare?

A) the mean scores of two groups on the same variable to determine the probability that the groups are different
B) the mean scores of two variables to see if they belong to the same group
C) the skew of two different samples to see if they come from the same population
D) the skew of two different samples to see which distribution is closest to the normal distribution

Question 19

Nonparametric statistics should be used when we ______.

A) cannot assume we have normally distributed data
B) can assume we have normally distributed data
C) do not know the sample size
D) have continuous variables

Question 20

Conceptually, the t test is based on ______.

A) the mode scores on the same variable for two different groups
B) the differences in means for a variable common to two groups
C) the population
D) size of correlation between groups

Question 21

The two tests most commonly used to see if two groups differ in some way are ______.

A) t test and correlation
B) correlation and standard deviation
C) correlation and chi-square test
D) t test and chi-square test

Question 22

What does the t test compare?

A) mean scores on one variable in two different groups
B) distribution of scores in two different groups
C) mean number of individuals in two different groups
D) mean number of variables in two different groups

Question 23

What do correlation coefficients indicate?

A) strength of the relationship between two variables
B) direction of the relationship between two variables
C) strength of the relationships among three or more variables
D) direction of the relationship among three or more variables

Question 24

Inferential statistics are based on the assumption that the sampled population has normally distributed characteristics.

Question 25

Linear regression assumes a relationship between variables that is best captured by ______.

A) a histogram
B) cross-tabulations
C) a curved line
D) a straight line

Question 26

Inferential statistics allow us to make an inference about a wider population with 100% certainty.

Question 27

Type II error is deciding that ______.

A) a relationship is linear when it is not
B) you have no significant result when in fact you do
C) you have a significant finding when in fact you do not
D) sample size is inadequate when it is adequate

Question 28

The t test is used to assess whether groups differ on which of the following types of variable?

A) nominal and ordinal
B) interval and ratio
C) linear and curvilinear
D) bivariate and univariate

Question 29

ANOVA is a ______ statistic.

A) multivariate
B) univariate
C) bivariate
D) unvariate

Question 30

What does one-way ANOVA compare?

A) one variable across one group
B) one variable across two or more groups
C) two or more variables across one group
D) two or more variables across two or more groups

Question 31

A bi-modal profile means that a distribution of data plots out showing ______ peak(s).

A) zero
B) one
C) two
D) three

Question 32

Inferential statistics are based on the assumption that the sample studied is randomly selected.

Question 33

The extent to which sample data reflect the wider population from which the sample was drawn can be estimated using which one of the following?

A) unilateral statistics
B) descriptive statistics
C) inferential statistics
D) essential statistics

Question 34

Type I error is deciding that ______.

A) a relationship is linear when it is not
B) you have no significant result when in fact you do
C) you have a significant finding when in fact you do not
D) sample size is inadequate when it is adequate

Question 35

The properties of a normal curve are such that ______ of the values under it occur plus or minus 2 standard deviations from the mean.

A) 50%
B) 68%
C) 95%
D) 99%

Question 36

Inferential statistics are based on the assumption(s) EXCEPT ______.

A) a normal distribution of values in a population
B) random sampling of the population
C) every individual in a sample having an equal chance of being sampled
D) snowball sampling

Question 37

Interpreting a t value requires that we also compute a number known as the degrees of ______.

A) randomness
B) meanness
C) freedom
D) variance

Question 38

The properties of a normal curve are such that ______ of the values under it occur plus or minus 1 standard deviation from the mean.

A) 33%
B) 50%
C) 68%
D) 95%

Question 39

"To what extent do my sample data reflect the wider population from which I sampled?" is a question that inferential statistics cannot answer.

Question 40

What does MANOVA stand for?

A) multiple analysis of variables
B) multivariate analysis of vectors
C) multivariate analysis of variance
D) multiple analysis of variance

Question 41

Explain the concept of statistical significance.

Question 42

Explain the purpose of the t test and the chi-square test and the difference between them.

Question 43

The t test assesses the differences in mean scores between two groups.

Question 44

For a sampling distribution (the distribution of sample results), the standard deviation is called the standard error.

Question 45

A significant correlation between two variables means that there is a causal relationship between them.

Question 46

Define Type I error.

Question 47

This range of possible values calculated for a particular level of confidence is called the confidence interval.

Question 48

In a statistically perfect world, data conform to a symmetrical so-called normal curve.

Question 49

A curvilinear relationship and a straight-line relationship between the two variables can exist simultaneously.

Question 50

You are designing a survey with the objective of comparing how male and female students differ in their use of social media. Outline the measures you would use and explain the statistics you would report for each measure in your final report.

Question 51

Explain how inferential statistics differ from descriptive statistics in the insights they can provide researchers.

Question 52

With inferential statistics, we do not need large sample sizes as long as we are prepared to accept a known level of uncertainty in our projections from a sample.

Question 53

A newspaper reports from a survey that college students study on average 7 hours a week for their classes. Identify the statistics and any other information you would want to know from this survey before making generalizations about the student population at large, and explain why.

Question 54

Both the t test and the chi-square test look for differences in average scores between two groups.

Question 55

Inferential statistics let us calculate a level of certainty when we project results from a sample to a wider population.

Question 56

Explain the difference between inferential and descriptive statistics.

Question 57

Identify two assumptions on which inferential statistics are based.

Question 58

Correlation is a measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables.

Question 59

Correlation shows the shape of the relationship between two variables.

Question 60

Define Type II error.