Deck 1: Introduction to Statistics

Question 1

Statistical methods that organize, summarize, or simplify data are called _______.

A)parameters
B)statistics
C)descriptive statistics
D)inferential statistics

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A recent study reports that elementary school students who were given a nutritious breakfast each morning had higher test scores than students who did not receive the breakfast.For this study, what is the independent variable?

A)the students who were given the nutritious breakfast
B)the students who were not given the nutritious breakfast
C)whether or not a breakfast was given to the students
D)the test scores for the students

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The average verbal SAT score for the entire class of entering freshmen is 530.However, if you select a sample of 20 freshmen and compute their average verbal SAT score you probably will not get exactly 530.What statistical concept is used to explain the natural difference that exists between a sample mean and the corresponding population mean?

A)statistical error
B)inferential error
C)sampling error
D)parametric error

Answer 3

C

Question 4

If it is impossible to divide the existing categories of a variable, then it is an example of a _____ variable.

A)independent
B)dependent
C)discrete
D)continuous

Question 5

For an experiment comparing two methods for teaching social skill training to autistic children, the independent variable is _______ and the dependent variable is _______.

A)teaching methods, the autistic children
B)the autistic children, the social skills that are learned
C)the social skills that are learned, the autistic children
D)teaching methods, the social skills that are learned

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of a continuous variable?

A)the gender of each student in a psychology class
B)the number of males in each class offered by the college
C)the amount of time to solve a problem
D)number of children in a family

Question 7

The relationship between a statistic and a parameter is the same as the relationship between ______.

A)a sample and a population.
B)a statistic and a parameter.
C)a parameter and a population
D)descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

Question 8

A researcher uses an anonymous survey to investigate the study habits of American college students.The entire group of American college students is an example of a(n) _________.

A)sample
B)statistic
C)population
D)parameter

Question 9

A researcher uses an anonymous survey to investigate the study habits of American college students.Based on the set of 56 surveys that were completed and returned, the researcher finds that these students spend an average of 4.1 hours each week working on course material outside of class.For this study, the set of 56 students who returned surveys is an example of a(n) _______.

A)parameter
B)statistic
C)population
D)sample

Question 10

A researcher is curious about the average monthly cell phone bill for high school students in the state of Florida.If this average could be obtained, it would be an example of a ______.

A)sample
B)statistic
C)population
D)parameter

Question 11

A researcher records the change in weight (gain or lost) during the first semester of college for each individual in a group of 25 freshmen, and calculates the average change in weight.The average is an example of a _______.

A)parameter
B)statistic
C)variable
D)constant

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a discrete variable?

A)the age of each student in a psychology class
B)the gender of each student in a psychology class
C)the amount of time to solve a problem
D)the amount of weight gained for each freshman at a local college

Question 13

A researcher is interested in the eating behavior of rats and selects a group of 25 rats to be tested in a research study.The group of 25 rats is an example of a ______.

A)sample
B)statistic
C)population
D)parameter

Question 14

A researcher conducts an experiment to determine whether moderate doses of St.Johns Wort have any effect of memory for college students.For this study, what is the independent variable?

A)the amount of St.Johns Wort given to each participant
B)the memory score for each participant
C)the group of college students
D)cannot answer without more information

Question 15

For a research study comparing attitude scores for males and females, participant gender is an example of what kind of variable?

A)an independent variable
B)a dependent variable
C)a quasi-independent variable
D)a quasi-dependent variable

Question 16

A characteristic, usually a numerical value, that describes a sample is called a _______.

A)parameter
B)statistic
C)variable
D)constant

Question 17

Although a research study is typically conducted with a relatively small group of participants known as a _________, most researchers hope to generalize their results to a much larger group known as a _________.

A)sample, population
B)statistic, sample
C)population, sample
D)parameter, population

Question 18

In a correlational study

A)1 variable is measured and 2 groups are compared
B)2 variables are measured and 2 groups are compared
C)1 variable is measured and there is only 1 group of participants
D)2 variables are measured and there is only 1 group of participants

Question 19

In an experimental study

A)1 variable is measured and 2 groups are compared
B)2 variables are measured and 2 groups are compared
C)1 variable is measured and there is only 1 group of participants
D)2 variables are measured and there is only 1 group of participants

Question 20

A researcher uses an anonymous survey to investigate the study habits of American college students.Based on the set of 56 surveys that were completed and returned, the researcher finds that these students spend an average of 4.1 hours each week working on course material outside of class.For this study, the average of 4.1 hours is an example of a(n) _______.

A)parameter
B)statistic
C)population
D)sample

Question 21

What is the value of Σ(X - 1)² for the following scores?

A)10
B)16 Scores: 1, 2, 1, 4
C)36
D)49

Question 22

What is the value of (ΣX)² for the following scores?

A)14
B)21 Scores: 1, 0, 2, 4
C)28
D)49

Question 23

What is the value of (ΣX)² for the following scores? Scores: 1, 5, 2

A)10
B)16
C)30
D)64

Question 24

You are instructed to subtract four points from each score and find the sum of the resulting values.How would this set of instructions be expressed in summation notation?

A)ΣX - 4
B)Σ (X - 4)
C)4 - ΣX
D)Σ(4 - X)

Question 25

Determining a person's reaction time (in milliseconds) would involve measurement on a(n) _____ scale of measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Question 26

What is the value of Σ(X + 1) for the following scores?

A)4
B)6 Scores: 1, 0, 1, 4
C)7
D)10

Question 27

What is the first step to be performed in the following mathematical expression? (ΣX)²

A)Square each score.
B)Add the scores.
C)Add the squared scores.
D)Square the sum of the scores.

Question 28

What is the value of Σ(X - 2 )² for the following scores? Scores: 2, 3, 5

A)8
B)10
C)16
D)36

Question 29

You are instructed to subtract four points from each score, square the resulting value, and find the sum of the squared numbers.How would this set of instructions be expressed in summation notation?

A)ΣX - 4²
B)(ΣX - 4)²
C)Σ(X - 4)²
D)ΣX² - 4

Question 30

After measuring two individuals, a researcher can say that Tom's score is 4 points higher than Bill's.The measurements must come from a(n) _______ scale.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)interval or ratio

Question 31

Using letter grades (A, B, C, D, and E) to classify student performance on an exam is an example of measurement on a(n) _______ scale of measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Question 32

What is the final step to be performed when computing Σ(X - 2)²?

A)square each value
B)subtract 2 points from each score
C)sum the squared values
D)subtract 2² from each X² value

Question 33

What is the value of ΣX + 1 for the following scores? Scores: 1, 6, 3

A)10
B)11
C)13
D)16

Question 34

What is the final step to be performed in the following mathematical expression? (ΣX)²?

A)Square each score.
B)Add the scores.
C)Add the squared scores.
D)Square the sum of the scores.

Question 35

Determining the class standing (1^st, 2^nd, and so on) for the graduating seniors at a high school would involve measurement on a(n) _____ scale of measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Question 36

What is the value of ΣX + 1 for the following scores?

A)8
B)10 Scores: 1, 0, 2, 4
C)11
D)14

Question 37

What additional information is obtained by measuring two individuals on an interval scale compared to a ordinal scale?

A)whether the measurements are the same or different
B)the direction of the difference
C)the size of the difference
D)none of the other options is correct

Question 38

What is the value of Σ(X + 1) for the following scores? Scores: 2, 4, 7.

A)10
B)11
C)13
D)16

Question 39

What is the value of ΣX² for the following scores?

A)14
B)21 Scores: 1, 0, 2, 4
C)28
D)49

Question 40

What is the value of Σ(X - 2) for the following scores? Scores: 2, 3, 5

A)4
B)6
C)8
D)10

Question 41

If a researcher measures two individuals on a nominal scale, it is impossible to determine which individual has the larger score.

Question 42

A correlational study is used to examine the relationship between two variables but cannot determine whether it is a cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 43

For statistical purposes, there usually is not much difference between scores from an interval scale and scores from a ratio scale.

Question 44

An experimental research study typically involves measuring two scores for each individual in one group of participants.

Question 45

The participants in a research study are classified as high, medium, or low in self-esteem.This classification involves measurement on a nominal scale.

Question 46

A recent report concluded that college graduates have higher life-satisfaction scores than individuals who do not receive college degrees.For this study, graduating versus not graduating is an example of a quasi-independent variable.

Question 47

Using the average score to describe a sample is an example of inferential statistics.

Question 48

If a researcher measures two individuals on an ordinal scale, then it is impossible to determine how much difference exists between the two people.

Question 49

The goal for an experiment is to demonstrate that changes in one variable are responsible for causing changes in a second variable.

Question 50

A researcher is interested in the average income for registered voters in the United States.The entire group of registered voters is an example of a population.

Question 51

A researcher interested in vocabulary development obtains a sample of 3-year-old children to participate in a research study.The average score for the group of 20 is an example of a parameter.

Question 52

A recent report concluded that children with siblings have better social skills than children who grow up as an only child.This is an example of an experimental study.

Question 53

A correlational study typically uses only one group of participants but measures two different variables (two scores) for each individual.

Question 54

To determine how much difference there is between two individuals, you must use either an interval or a ratio scale of measurement.

Question 55

The average score for a population is an example of a statistic.

Question 56

Classifying people into two groups on the basis of gender is an example of measurement on an ordinal scale.

Question 57

A discrete variable must be measured on a nominal or an ordinal scale.

Question 58

A high school gym teacher records how much time each student requires to complete a one-mile run.This is an example of measuring a continuous variable.

Question 59

Recording the number of students who are absent each day at a high school would be an example of measuring a discrete variable.

Question 60

Students in an introductory art class are classified as art majors and non-art majors.This is an example of measurement on a nominal scale.

Question 61

For the following scores, Σ(X - 1) = 10.Scores: 1, 3, 7

Question 62

In an introductory theater class, the professor records each student's favorite movie from the previous year.The teacher is measuring a discrete variable.

Question 63

For the following scores, Σ(X + 1) = 9.Scores: 1, 3, 0, 1

Question 64

To compute (ΣX)², you first add the scores, then square the total.

Question 65

For the following scores, $\Sigma$ X² = ( $\Sigma$ X)².Scores: 1, 1, 1, 1

Question 66

A data set is described as consisting of n = 15 scores.Based on the notation being used, the data set is a sample.

Question 67

The first step in computing Σ(X + 1), is to add 1 point to each score.

Question 68

For the following scores, ΣX² = 35 .Scores: 1, 3, 5

Question 69

For the following scores, Σ(X + 1)² = 81.Scores: 1, 3, 0, 1

Question 70

For the following scores, ΣX² = 49.Scores: 1, 4, 2, 0