Question 1

Using the General Social Survey as an example, the concept of the sampling distribution allows us to link the sample of about ____ respondents to the population of about _______ adult Americans.

Accepted Answer

A)  10,000, 200 million 
B)  225 million, 3000 
C)  a few million, 300 million 
D)  several thousand, 235 million

Question 2

Define and distinguish between the sample distribution, the sampling distribution, and the population distribution. How are these three distributions related to each other in inferential statistics?________. What symbols are used to identify the means and standard deviations of each of the three distributions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define and distinguish between the sample distribution,...

Question 3

Statistics are characteristics of samples while ________ are characteristics of ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  percentages, populations 
B)  medians, clusters 
C)  parameters, stratified samples 
D)  parameters, populations

Question 4

For a simple random sample, each case and each combination of cases in the population must________.

Accepted Answer

A)  be representative. 
B)  be included in the sample. 
C)  be contacted by the researcher. 
D)  have an equal probability of being chosen for the sample.

Question 5

In your own words, explain the purpose of inferential statistics. Include in your essay the concepts of sample, population, statistic, parameter, representativeness, and the principle of EPSEM. Make sure that you define each of these terms as you develop your essay.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In your own words, explain the purpose...

Question 6

If a sample is representative, it________.

Accepted Answer

A)  is stratified. 
B)  is restricted to the calculation of parameters only. 
C)  reproduces the characteristics of the population. 
D)  resembles the sampling distribution.

Question 7

When we use larger samples (N 100) we can assume a normal sampling distribution because of________.

Accepted Answer

A)  common sense. 
B)  the Central Limit Theorem. 
C)  what we know about the population. 
D)  what we know about the sample.

Question 8

The standard deviation of the sampling distribution is represented by which of the following symbol(s)?

Accepted Answer

A)   
B)   
C)   
D)

Question 9

What are the three distributions involved in every application of inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

A)  sample, sampling, and population 
B)  sample, stratification, cluster 
C)  EPSEM, random, probability 
D)  sampling, percentage, normal

Question 10

Cluster sampling often involves selecting________.

Accepted Answer

A)  geographical areas. 
B)  systematic stratified clusters. 
C)  older respondents only. 
D)  cases alphabetically.

Question 11

Of the three distributions used in inferential statistics, which is only theoretical?

Accepted Answer

A)  population distribution 
B)  sampling distribution 
C)  sample distribution 
D)  None of the distributions are only theoretical.

Question 12

When using systematic sampling, the researcher must________.

Accepted Answer

A)  select only representative cases. 
B)  make sure that the list of the population is random or, at least, non-cyclical with respect to the variables of interest. 
C)  select every case. 
D)  select only respondents who are likely to cooperate.

Question 13

The sampling distribution and its characteristics are based upon________.

Accepted Answer

A)  its measurement in the population. 
B)  empirical data. 
C)  nonprobability data. 
D)  laws of probability.

Question 14

Which of the following is necessary to calculate the standard error of the mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  Variance 
B)  Standard deviation of the population 
C)  Correlation between population and sample 
D)  Median of the population

Question 15

I surveyed 48 randomly-selected residents of the apartment complex where I live to determine their voting habits. I can only use this information to generalize to all the residents if________.

Accepted Answer

A)  there is evidence of a normal population distribution. 
B)  the 48 residents all have the same voting habits. 
C)  the 48 residents are equally divided in their voting habits. 
D)  the sample distribution is not normal in shape.

Question 16

By the theorems presented in the text, we know that the mean of a sampling distribution of sample means will be________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the same as the population mean. 
B)  close to the value of the sample mean. 
C)  between the population and sample means in value. 
D)  representative of the entire population.

Question 17

The fundamental principle of probability sampling is that a sample selected by________ is very likely to be __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  EPSEM, representative 
B)  stratification, large 
C)  telephone polls, cheap 
D)  clusters, stratified

Exam 6: Introduction to Inferential Statistics Sampling and the Sampling Distribution

Using the General Social Survey as an example, the concept of the sampling distribution allows us to link the sample of about respondents to the population of about ___ adult Americans.

Statistics are characteristics of samples while are characteristics of ___.