Deck 1: The Nature of Probability and Statistics

Question 1

A person's hair colour would be an example of a quantitative variable.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

In a research study, it is always preferable for the researcher to choose his participants as carefully as
possible rather than randomly accept samples.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The number of birds in a tree is an example of a continuous variable.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

If every 14th customer leaving a movie were surveyed, this would be an example of systematic
sampling.

Question 5

Based on Mrs. Smith's electric bill for last year she expects that she will be paying $75/month this year.
This is an example of descriptive statistics.

Question 6

The four basic methods used to obtain samples are: random, irregular, cluster, and stratified.

Question 7

What is the term for a characteristic or attribute that can assume different values?

A) datum
B) variable
C) exponent
D) sample

Question 8

Variables with values that are determined by chance are called

A) specialized.
B) erratic variables.
C) random variables.
D) inconsistent variables.

Question 9

If you were told that four students from a class of twenty were questioned for a grade versus test preparation poll, this would be an example of

A) sampling.
B) surveying.
C) interviewing.
D) organizing.

Question 10

Which branch of statistics would employ probability to predict how many miles one would be able to drive a 2000 Toyota Celica during its lifetime?

A) predictive statistics
B) descriptive statistics
C) inferential statistics
D) differential statistics

Question 11

Which branch of statistics would buy a hundred Toyotas, drive them into the ground, record the final mileage, and then write a report for Car and Driver?

A) predictive statistics
B) descriptive statistics
C) inferential statistics
D) differential statistics

Question 12

A dependent variable can also be referred to as an outcome variable.

Question 13

When running an experimental study, the group that is manipulated is called the treatment group.

Question 14

Inferential statistics is based on probability theory.

Question 15

Statistics is the science of conducting studies to

A) solve a system of equations.
B) hypothesize, experiment, and form conclusions.
C) collect, organize, summarize, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
D) monitor, study, and report on a subject.

Question 16

The variable of height is an example of a quantitative variable.

Question 17

Rating a restaurant by a number of stars is an example of an ordinal level of measurement.

Question 18

If a weather centre monitors and calculates the number of lightning flashes per 100 square kilometres for Edmonton, Alberta each year, what type of variable would they be investigating?

A) random variable
B) controlled variable
C) isolated variable
D) weather variable

Question 19

Each value in a data set may be referred to as either a data value or a(n)

A) data subset.
B) datum.
C) atom.
D) data point.

Question 20

Data can be classified as qualitative, continuous, or nonsequential.

Question 21

The amount of time needed to run the Toronto marathon is an example of which type of variable?

A) discrete
B) qualitative
C) continuous
D) none of the above

Question 22

What type of sampling is being employed if the country is divided into economic classes and a sample is chosen from each class to be surveyed?

A) random sampling
B) systematic sampling
C) stratified sampling
D) cluster sampling

Question 23

A ______________ variable assumes values that can be counted.
________________________________________

Question 24

A variable measuring the number of people in a group

A) Can only be analyzed as a continuous variable
B) Can only be analyzed as a discrete variable C Could be analyzed as either continuous or discrete depending on the whether there are a large or small
) number of people in the group
D) Cannot be analyzed as either continuous or discrete

Question 25

If a researcher manipulates one of the variables and tries to determine how the manipulation influences other variables, the researcher is conducting a(n)

A) observational study.
B) experimental study.
C) independent study.
D) manipulative study.

Question 26

Which of the following best defines the relationship between confounding, dependent, and independent variables?

A) The confounding variable influences the independent variable, but has no effect on the dependent variable.
B) The confounding variable cannot be separated from the dependent variable.
C) The confounding variable may cause the dependent variable to act independently.
D)The confounding variable may influence the dependent variable, but its effect cannot be separated from the independent variable.

Question 27

An ad for an exercise product states: "Using this product will burn 74% more calories." This is an example of

A) changing the subject
B) detached statistics
C) suspect samples
D) ambiguous averages

Question 28

An advertisement for a pick-up truck states that it is 30% more powerful than its competitor. This is an example of

A) changing the subject
B) detached statistics
C) suspect samples
D) ambiguous averages

Question 29

An independent variable can also be called a(n)

A) free variable.
B) explanatory variable.
C) suggestive variable.
D) outcome variable.

Question 30

What level of measurement classifies data into mutually exclusive (nonoverlapping), exhausting categories in which no order or ranking can be imposed on the data?

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

Question 31

A television station interviews five movie viewers after the first showing of a movie. After finding out that all five enjoyed the movie very much, the reporter states that this movie will definitely be a big hit.
This is an example of

A) changing the subject
B) detached statistics
C) suspect samples
D) ambiguous averages

Question 32

______________ is a decision-making process for evaluating claims about a population, based on
information obtained from samples.
________________________________________

Question 33

If a variable has possible values -3, 4, and 14, then this variable is

A) a continuous variable
B) a discrete variable
C) both a continuous and a discrete variable
D) neither a continuous nor a discrete variable

Question 34

What level of measurement possesses all the characteristics of interval measurement, and there exists a

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

Question 35

A ______________ consists of all subjects that are being studied.
________________________________________

Question 36

Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between a sample and a population?

A) A sample is a group of populations that are subject to observation.
B) A population is a group of samples that may or may not be included in a study.
C) A sample is a group of subjects selected from a population to be studied.
D) A population and a sample are not related.

Question 37

If you classified the fruit in a basket as apple, orange, or banana, this would be an example of which level of measurement?

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

Question 38

In a

A) quasi-experimental study.
B) convoluted study.
C) cluster study.
D) stratified study.

Question 39

A magazine tests a new car and reports that it could be twice as fun to drive as its predecessor. This is NOT an example of

A) changing the subject
B) detached statistics
C) suspect samples
D) implied connections

Question 40

In an advertisement for a car, a driver is shown driving expertly through a difficult road course. At the bottom of the ad, the following is included in small print "Professional driver on a closed course". This is
An example of

A) changing the subject
B) detached statistics
C) suspect samples
D) implied connections

Question 41

What level of measurement would be applied when doing a survey on the average Canadian's shoe size?

Question 42

How are statistics important in our everyday lives, and why do we need to understand them?

Question 43

The number of people from the province of Quebec who voted for a Conservative in the last election is an
example of the ______________ level of measurement.
________________________________________

Question 44

The _______________ level of measurement classifies data into categories that can be ranked; however,
precise differences between the ranks do not exist.
________________________________________

Question 45

Macrophytes were sampled at each of 3 depths in a particular region of Lake Opinicon. The macrophages
obtained at each depth were classified as to their genus and their dry weights were also determined. One
question that was studied was whether or not macrophyte dry weight differs at different depths and if the
dry weight depended on the type of macrophage. The number of explanatory variables in this part of the
study is ___________.
________________________________________

Question 46

How might a telephone survey performed between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM be biased?

Question 47

One advantage of a(n) ______________ study is that it occurs in a natural setting.
________________________________________

Question 48

Explain the difference between qualitative, quantitative, discrete, and continuous variables.

Question 49

Management of an industrial company implements improvements in working conditions (better lighting)
and finds that productivity is higher one year after implementation of these improved working conditions.
This type of study is ___________ (observational, quasi-experimental, experimental).
________________________________________

Question 50

The dry weights(g) were calculated for samples of Zebra mussels obtained at several locations and
at several depths in Lake Simcoe. The type of study used was ___________ (observational, quasi-
experimental, experimental).
________________________________________

Question 51

Macrophytes were sampled at each of 3 depths in a particular region of Lake Opinicon. The macrophages
obtained at each depth were classified as to their genus and their dry weights were also determined. The
variable macrophage genus would be classified as a ___________ variable.
________________________________________

Question 52

______________ sampling is used when the population is large or when it involves subjects residing in a
large geographic area.
________________________________________

Question 53

The ______________ variable influences the _____________ variable.
________________________________________

Question 54

The dry weights(g) were calculated for samples of Zebra mussels obtained at several locations and at
several depths in Lake Simcoe. The response variable would be classified as a ___________ variable.
________________________________________