Deck 9: Hypotheses and Sampling Distributions

Question 1

An alternative hypothesis represents an attempt to

A)point out the way in which a dependent variable affects an independent variable
B)explain real differences
C)create another hypothesis to test if our primary hypothesis proves to be false
D)locate a set of alternative variables that are different from those used in the null hypothesis

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Statistical error distributions are used to determine if alternative hypotheses should be rejected or accepted.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

There is always error in sampling.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The statement "Younger defendants are more likely to be sentenced to longer prison sentences than older defendants" is an example of a

A)null hypothesis
B)positive one-tailed hypothesis
C)positive two-tailed negative hypothesis (there are two variables included)
D)negative one-tailed hypothesis

Question 5

A two-tailed hypothesis is the same thing as a

A)nondirectional hypothesis
B)hypothesis that is concerned only with the central part of a distribution
C)specifying two one-tailed hypotheses
D)more powerful than a one-tailed hypothesis

Question 6

Random samples are used to estimate error in statistical sampling distributions because

A)of the systematic nature of random error
B)of the probability that random error is less likely to occur
C)of our ability to reproduce that type of error
D)random samples cannot be used to estimate error because "random" means the error would be unknown

Question 7

The further out on the tails a difference is found

A)the less likely it is to be an accidental difference
B)the greater the probability the difference is not due to random error
C)the bigger the difference is from the mean of the sampling distribution
D)all of the above

Question 8

If you hypothesize that higher levels of education will increase success on parole and in testing it turns out that lower levels of education decrease success on parole

A)you have to reject the hypothesis
B)you need to rephrase the hypothesis
C)you can't test this because it requires a corresponding null hypothesis that was not stated
D)you accept the hypothesis

Question 9

If you propose a one-tailed hypothesis and have to reject it with the true results being the opposite one-tailed hypothesis,you are not just wrong,you are significantly wrong.

Question 10

One-tailed hypotheses provide the direction of the independent variable but do not require stating the direction of the dependent variable.

Question 11

Two-tailed hypotheses accept any kind of difference,not just a single direction.

Question 12

Hypotheses,as used in statistics,are

A)different from those used in theory testing
B)measurable statements
C)most commonly composed of general statements
D)all of the above

Question 13

Most differences caused by random error will be close to the zero difference point.

Question 14

A hypothesis is a

A)speculative guess with no true foundation in reality
B)statement of a relationship between two or more concepts
C)statement of a relationship between two or more variables
D)all of the above

Question 15

All inferential statistics assume the null hypothesis is true.

Question 16

Random error is important because estimating its size and amount gives us a way to determine whether an observed difference is real.

Question 17

A nondirectional hypothesis is called that because

A)no tails in a curve are used
B)both tails in a curve are used
C)only one tail in a curve is used
D)none of the above

Question 18

If you know which of two variables is the independent variable and which one is the dependent variable,you can propose

A)a null hypothesis
B)a one-tailed hypothesis
C)a two-tailed hypothesis
D)all of the above

Question 19

Hypotheses used in statistics tend to be general ones,without specificity.

Question 20

A null hypothesis is:

A)a statement of no difference
B)related to the scientific preference for conservative decisions
C)the concept behind inferential statistics (measures of significance)
D)all of the above

Question 21

The null hypothesis really means that the likelihood of a result being due to random error can be rejected at the moment.