Deck 1: Introduction to Statistics

Question 1

Statistics is commonly divided into two branches called descriptive statistics and summary statistics.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A census is the process of gathering data on all the entities in the population.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The basis for inferential statistics is the ability to make decisions about population parameters without having to complete a census of the population.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Which of the following is $\textbf{ not }$ a key element of statistics?

A) collection of data
B) interpreting data
C) analyzing data
D) presenting data requires only pie chart

Question 5

Calculation of population parameters is usually either impossible or excessively time consuming and costly.

Question 6

All numerical data must be analyzed statistically in the same way because all of them are represented by numbers.

Question 7

Gathering data from a sample to reach conclusions about the population from which the sample was drawn is called descriptive statistics.

Question 8

Variables and measurement data are interchangeable terms.

Question 9

A list of final grades in an introductory class in business is an example of statistics.

Question 10

Measurements occur when a standard process is used to assign numbers to attributes or characteristics of a variable.

Question 11

Statistics can be used to predict the business future.

Question 12

A variable is a quantity that describes each of the possible outcomes of an experiment.

Question 13

A descriptive measure of the sample is called a statistic.

Question 14

Virtually all areas of business use statistics in decision making.

Question 15

Statistics are used to market vitamins.

Question 16

Which of the following does $\textbf{ not }$ reflect statistics?

A) It describes ways of analyzing categorical data.
B) It describes methods of collecting data.
C) It involves interpreting data.
D) It describes methods of analyzing data.

Question 17

The complete collection of all entities under study is called the sample.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about business statistics is not true?

A) Virtually every area of business uses statistics in decision making.
B) Presenting business statistics always requires the use of a specific graph called a bar chart.
C) There is a wide variety of uses and applications of statistics in business.
D) Business statistics can be used to forecast future values and predict trends.

Question 19

A portion or subset of the entities under study is called the statistic.

Question 20

A descriptive measure of the population is called a parameter.

Question 21

Miguel Hernandez, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Memorial Hospital is exploring the usage of nursing overtime in the emergency department during the last operating year. Staffing records and emergency department visits for 20 days between the period of January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, are selected for analysis. For this study, the group of 20 days is a ___.

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

Question 22

Rebecca Sear, Marketing Director of a regional restaurant chain, is directing a study to identify and assess the in-dining experience of the customers at one of the restaurants. She directs her staff to design a web-based market survey for distribution to all of the restaurant's 1265 customers who enjoyed a meal during the past 6 months. For this study, the set of 1265 customers is ___.

A) a parameter
B) a sample
C) the population
D) a statistic
E) the frame

Question 23

Miguel Hernandez, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Memorial Hospital is exploring the usage of nursing overtime in the emergency department during the last operating year. Staffing records and emergency department visits for all 360 days between the period of January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, are selected for analysis. Miguel's dataset can best be classified as a

A) statistic.
B) census.
C) sample.
D) sorting.
E) parameter.

Question 24

Sue Taylor, Director of Global Industrial Sales, is concerned by a deteriorating sales trend. Specifically, the number of customers is stable at 1,500, but they are purchasing less each year.
She orders her staff to search for causes of the downward trend by selecting a focus group of 40 industrial customers. Sue is ordering a ___.

A) statistic from the industrial customers
B) census of the industrial customers
C) sample of the industrial customers
D) sorting of the industrial customers
E) parameter of the industrial customers

Question 25

The process of summarizing the data is called

A) inferential statistics.
B) quantitative data.
C) descriptive statistics.
D) deferential statistics.
E) categorical data.

Question 26

Using data from a group to generalize to a larger group involves the use of ___.

A) descriptive statistics
B) inferential statistics
C) population derivation
D) sample persuasion
E) relative level data

Question 27

Sue Taylor, Director of Global Industrial Sales, is concerned by a deteriorating sales trend. Specifically, the number of industrial customers is stable at 1,500, but they are purchasing less each year. She orders her staff to search for causes of the downward trend by surveying all 1,500 industrial customers. For this study, the set of 1,500 industrial customers is ___.

A) a parameter
B) a sample
C) the population
D) a statistic
E) the frame

Question 28

A local manufacturing plant randomly selected 200 items from a production run and 9 of them are defective. The proportion of defective items in this sample is a ___.

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

Question 29

Pinky Bauer, Chief Financial Officer of Harrison Haulers, Inc., suspects irregularities in the payroll system, and orders an inspection of "every tenth payroll voucher issued since January 1, 2013." Pinky is ordering a ___.

A) statistic from the payroll vouchers
B) census of the payroll vouchers
C) sample of the payroll vouchers
D) sorting of the payroll vouchers
E) parameter of the payroll vouchers

Question 30

When a person collects information from the entire population, this is called a ___.

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

Question 31

Sue Taylor, Director of Global Industrial Sales, is concerned by a deteriorating sales trend. Specifically, the number of industrial customers is stable at 1,500, but they are purchasing less each year. She orders her staff to search for causes of the downward trend by selecting a focus group of 40 industrial customers. For this study, the set of 40 industrial customers is ___.

A) a parameter
B) a sample
C) the population
D) a statistic
E) the frame

Question 32

Miguel Hernandez, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Memorial Hospital, is exploring the usage of nursing over-time hours in the emergency department during the last operating year (January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012). Miguel intends to survey the emergency department nurses regarding their perception of over-time needs. For this survey y the set of all emergency department nurses who worked at Memorial Hospital during the last operating year is ___.

A) a parameter
B) a sample
C) the population
D) a statistic
E) the frame

Question 33

Rebecca Sear, Marketing Director of a regional restaurant chain, is directing a study to identify and assess the in-dining experience of the customers at one of the restaurants. She directs her staff to design a web-based market survey for distribution to 100 of the restaurant's 1265 customers who enjoyed a meal during the past 6 months. For this study, the set of 100 customers is ___.

A) a parameter
B) a sample
C) the population
D) a statistic
E) the frame

Question 34

On discovering an improperly adjusted drill press, Jack Joyner, Director of Quality Control, ordered an inspection of every fifth casting drilled during the evening shift. Jack is ordering a ___.

A) statistic from the castings
B) census of the castings
C) sample of the castings
D) sorting of the castings
E) parameter of the castings

Question 35

What is the first stage in statistics?

A) Organize data.
B) Identify the population to be studied.
C) Analyze data.
D) Summarize data.

Question 36

A cancer research group was interested in determining the percentage of women 40 years or older that have regularly scheduled mammograms. To accomplish this, they surveyed 500 women in this age group and based on 155 women that responded affirmatively, estimated the percentage of all women in this age group that have regularly scheduled mammograms. This process is an example of ___.

A) categorical data
B) quantitative data
C) descriptive statistics
D) inferential statistics
E) census

Question 37

In statistics, conducting a survey means

A) collecting information from elements.
B) making mathematical calculations.
C) presenting data.
D) drawing graphs.

Question 38

Pinky Bauer, Chief Financial Officer of Harrison Haulers, Inc., suspects irregularities in the payroll system, and orders an inspection of "each and every payroll voucher issued since January 1, 2013." Pinky is ordering a ___.

A) statistic from the payroll vouchers
B) census of the payroll vouchers
C) sample of the payroll vouchers
D) sorting of the payroll vouchers
E) parameter of the payroll vouchers

Question 39

Sue Taylor, Director of Global Industrial Sales, is concerned by a deteriorating sales trend. Specifically, the number of customers is stable at 1,500, but they are purchasing less each year.
She orders her staff to search for causes of the downward trend by surveying all 1,500 industrial customers. Sue is ordering a ___.

A) statistic from the industrial customers
B) census of the industrial customers
C) sample of the industrial customers
D) sorting of the industrial customers
E) parameter of the industrial customers

Question 40

On discovering an improperly adjusted drill press, Jack Joyner, Director of Quality Control, ordered a 100% inspection of all castings drilled during the evening shift. Jack is ordering a ___.

A) statistic from the castings
B) census of the castings
C) sample of the castings
D) sorting of the castings
E) parameter of the castings

Question 41

A researcher wants to know what the average variation is in altimeters of small, privately owned airplanes. The task of determining this is expensive and time consuming, if even possible, given the large number of such airplanes. The researcher decides to use government records to randomly locate the owners of ten such planes and then get permission to test the altimeters. When the researcher is done, he will use the data gathered from the group of ten to reach conclusions about all small, privately owned airplanes. This process can best be described as ___.

A) data statistics
B) research statistics
C) descriptive statistics
D) inferential statistics
E) summary statiistics

Question 42

Which of the following measurement processes is least likely to yield usable data?

A) Counting the number of shoppers entering the department store between 12 pm and 2 pm.
B) Studying cell phone bills and recording the number of text messages sent per month.
C) Performing a consumer survey of preferences in fast food chains
D) Asking students to list three things that are important to them.
E) Calculating the percent of college students who work at least 20 hours while attending school.

Question 43

Jessica Salas, president of Salas Products, is reviewing the warranty policy for her company's new model of automobile batteries. Life tests performed on a sample of 100 batteries indicated an average life of seven years under normal usage. Jessica recommended a six-year warranty period for the new model. This is an example of ___.

A) descriptive statistics
B) executive forecasting
C) population derivation
D) sample persuasion
E) inferential statistics

Question 44

You are the owner of a camping site and want to estimate the average age of your customers. For this purpose, you select a representative sample of your clients and offer them a discount good for their next visit as compensation for filling out a short questionnaire that includes relevant age intervals. The average age of the customers who fill out the questionnaire is

A) a measurement.
B) data.
C) a statistic.
D) a parameter.
E) a census.

Question 45

You are the owner of a camping site that has a small pond with fishes, and you want to know approximately the number of fishes currently in the pond. For this purpose, you catch 30 fishes and mark them with a special ink that will take a few days to be washed away. The ink doesn't affect the fishes in any way. The fishes are returned promptly to the pond after being marked. The next day at the same time of day you return and catch 30 fishes, and you find out that 5 of these fishes are marked.

A) This is an example of descriptive statistics, because you are describing the number of fishes in the pond.
B) This is not an example of statistics.
C) This is an example of inferential statistics, because you are inferring the population of fishes.
D) This could be either an example of descriptive or inferential statistics, depending on your procedure after you find out that 5 fishes are marked among the selected 30 on the second day.
E) This procedure would not allow you to estimate the population of fishes.

Question 46

At an international conference on education, delegates were asked to answer the following questions:
a) What $\textbf{ country }$ are you from?
b) What $\textbf{ distance }$ did you travel to get to the conference?
c) What is the $\textbf{ highest level of education }$ you have completed?
d) What is your $\textbf{ age? }$
Classify the variables in bold as either quantitative or categorical.

Question 47

One of the main ways to organize the study of statistics is to divide it in two branches. These two branches are ___ statistics and ___ statistics.

A) positive; normative
B) descriptive; normative
C) positive; inferential
D) descriptive; inferential
E) positive; macro

Question 48

On discovering an improperly adjusted drill press, Jack Joyner, Director of Quality Control, ordered an inspection of every fifth casting drilled during the evening shift. Less than 1% of the castings were defective; so, Jack released the evening shift's production to assembly. This is an example of ___.

A) categorical data
B) quantitative data
C) descriptive statistics
D) inferential statistics
E) judgmental statistics

Question 49

The Chamber of Commerce wants to assess its membership's opinions of the North American Free Trade Agreement. One-hundred of the 2,000 members are randomly selected and contacted by telephone. Seventy-five reported an overall favorable opinion, and twenty-five reported an overall unfavorable opinion. The proportion, 0.75, is a ___.

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

Question 50

In a survey conducted among 200 first years of a certain college, 36 percent were business majors, 34 percent were science majors, and 23 percent arts majors.
a) What constitutes the population?
b) What is the sample?
c) The 36 percent of the 200 first years who were business majors is?

Question 51

A market researcher is interested in determining the average income for families in Duval County, Florida. To accomplish this, she takes a random sample of 400 families from the county and uses the data gathered from them to estimate the average income for families of the entire county. This process is an example of ___.

A) categorical data
B) quantitative data
C) descriptive statistics
D) inferential statistics
E) census

Question 52

You are the owner of a camping site and want to estimate the average age of your customers. For this purpose, you select a representative sample of your clients and offer them a discount good for their next visit as compensation for filling out a short questionnaire that includes relevant age intervals. The average age of your customers is

A) a measurement.
B) data.
C) a statistic.
D) a parameter.
E) a census.

Question 53

The Universal Pulp Company has a plant in Portland, Oregon. Management wants to determine the average number of sick days taken per worker in this plant in 2012. To do this, the management gathers records on all the workers in the plant and averages the number of sick days taken in 2012 by each worker. This process is using ___.

A) categorical data
B) quantitative data
C) descriptive statistics
D) inferential statistics
E) a census

Question 54

A student makes an 82% on the first test in a statistics course. From this, she estimates that her average at the end of the semester (after other tests) will be about 82%. This is an example of ___.

A) descriptive statistics
B) inferential statistics
C) population derivation
D) sample persuasion
E) relative level data

Question 55

What proportion of San Diego's registered voters favor trade restrictions with China? In an effort to determine this, a research team calls every registered voter in San Diego and contacts them. The proportion determined from the data gathered is a ___.

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

Question 56

Which of the following statements is correct?

A) Business researchers rarely give attention to collecting meaningful data.
B) Variables are data that can be directly used for decision making.
C) Valid data are the lifeblood of business statistics.
D) Measurements never need to be defined by the business researcher.
E) Business statistics are extremely complex and hard to use for decision making.

Question 57

List the four key elements of business statistics.

Question 58

A new sales person is paid a commission on each sale. This person made $2,000 his first month on the job. From this he concludes that he will make $24,000 during his first year. This is an example of ___.

A) inferential statistics
B) quantitative data
C) descriptive statistics
D) deferential statistics
E) categorical data

Question 59

A researcher wants to know what the average variation is in altimeters of small, privately owned airplanes. The task of determining this is expensive and time consuming, if even possible, given the large number of such airplanes. The researcher decides to use government records to randomly locate the owners of ten such planes and then get permission to test the altimeters. When the researcher is done, he will use the data gathered from the group of ten to reach conclusions about all small, privately owned airplanes. The average variation computed using the data gathered on the group of ten airplanes is best described as a ___.

A) measurement
B) data
C) statistic
D) parameter
E) census

Question 60

The Magnolia Swimming Pool Company wants to determine the average number of years it takes before a major repair is required on one of the pools that the company constructs. The president of the company asks Rick Johnson, a company accountant, to randomly contact fifty families that built Magnolia pools in the past ten years and determine how long it was in each case until a major repair. The information will then be used to estimate the average number of years until a major repair for all pools sold by Magnolia. The average based on the data gathered from the fifty families can best be described as a ___.

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