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Chapter 1 Homework — Multiple Choice

Sampling and Data — 20 multiple-choice questions covering definitions, sampling techniques, sources of bias, and frequency tables.

Choose the single best answer for each question.

1.1 — Definitions, Population vs Sample, Parameter vs Statistic

  1. 1.

    Which of the following best describes "statistics" as a discipline?

    1. A.The study of probability theory only
    2. B.The science of planning studies and experiments, obtaining data, and then organizing, summarizing, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from the data
    3. C.The collection of numerical facts about a population
    4. D.The use of mathematical equations to predict the future
  2. 2.

    A sample is best defined as:

    1. A.The entire group being studied
    2. B.A subset of the population that is being studied
    3. C.A numerical summary of the population
    4. D.Every person who answers a survey
  3. 3.

    The mean weight of all 4,200 students at a university is reported as 158 pounds. The value 158 pounds is best described as:

    1. A.A statistic
    2. B.A parameter
    3. C.A variable
    4. D.An individual
  4. 4.

    A poll of 800 randomly selected adults found that 62% support a new tax law. The 62% is best described as:

    1. A.A parameter
    2. B.A statistic
    3. C.The population
    4. D.An individual
  5. 5.

    Which of the following is an example of descriptive (rather than inferential) statistics?

    1. A.Predicting the outcome of a national election from a sample of 1,500 voters
    2. B.Reporting the average height of the 25 students in a particular classroom
    3. C.Estimating the proportion of defective parts in a shipment based on a small sample
    4. D.Using a sample mean to estimate the population mean

1.2 — Types of Data

  1. 6.

    Which variable is qualitative (categorical)?

    1. A.Age in years
    2. B.Number of cars sold last week
    3. C.Eye color
    4. D.Length of a phone call in minutes
  2. 7.

    Which variable is quantitative?

    1. A.Favorite movie genre
    2. B.ZIP code
    3. C.Number of pets owned
    4. D.Brand of phone
  3. 8.

    Which variable is discrete?

    1. A.Volume of water in a swimming pool
    2. B.Time to run a marathon
    3. C.Number of goals scored in a soccer game
    4. D.Outdoor temperature at noon
  4. 9.

    Which variable is continuous?

    1. A.Number of books on a shelf
    2. B.Height of a person, in centimeters
    3. C.Number of students enrolled in a class
    4. D.Number of text messages sent today

1.2 — Sampling Techniques

  1. 10.

    A researcher numbers all 500 employees of a company and uses a random number generator to choose 30 of them to interview. This is an example of:

    1. A.Convenience sampling
    2. B.Stratified sampling
    3. C.Cluster sampling
    4. D.Simple random sampling
  2. 11.

    A factory inspects every 20th item that comes off the assembly line. This is an example of:

    1. A.Systematic sampling
    2. B.Cluster sampling
    3. C.Simple random sampling
    4. D.Convenience sampling
  3. 12.

    A school has 600 freshmen, 500 sophomores, 400 juniors, and 300 seniors. To survey students, an administrator randomly selects 30 students from each class level. This is an example of:

    1. A.Cluster sampling
    2. B.Stratified sampling
    3. C.Simple random sampling
    4. D.Systematic sampling
  4. 13.

    A school district has 80 elementary schools. To estimate average reading scores, a researcher randomly chooses 5 schools and tests every student in those 5 schools. This is an example of:

    1. A.Stratified sampling
    2. B.Systematic sampling
    3. C.Cluster sampling
    4. D.Convenience sampling
  5. 14.

    A reporter interviews the first 25 people who walk past a downtown bus stop. The most accurate description of this method is:

    1. A.Simple random sampling
    2. B.Stratified sampling
    3. C.Convenience sampling
    4. D.Systematic sampling

1.2 — Sources of Bias

  1. 15.

    A magazine publishes a survey on its website and uses only the responses of readers who choose to fill it out. About 4% of subscribers respond. The most likely source of bias is:

    1. A.There is no bias because the survey reached every subscriber
    2. B.Nonresponse bias
    3. C.Response bias
    4. D.Sampling error only
  2. 16.

    A radio talk show asks listeners to call in and vote on a proposed local ordinance. The audience is mostly retirees who listen during the day. This is an example of:

    1. A.Sampling bias
    2. B.Nonresponse bias
    3. C.Response bias
    4. D.Random sampling
  3. 17.

    In a face-to-face interview, subjects are asked how often they cheat on their taxes. The most likely source of bias is:

    1. A.Sampling bias
    2. B.Nonresponse bias
    3. C.Response bias
    4. D.Random error

1.3 — Frequency, Relative Frequency, and Cumulative Frequency

  1. 18.

    Which best defines relative frequency?

    1. A.The number of observations in a category
    2. B.The proportion of observations in a category relative to the total number of observations
    3. C.The cumulative total of all categories
    4. D.The midpoint of a class interval
  2. 19.

    Eighty students take an exam, and 12 of them earn a B. The relative frequency of "B" is:

    1. A.12
    2. B.0.12
    3. C.0.15
    4. D.0.20
  3. 20.

    In a frequency distribution, the cumulative frequency of a class is best described as:

    1. A.The frequency of that class divided by the total
    2. B.The frequency of that class minus the frequency of the previous class
    3. C.The sum of the frequencies of that class and all previous classes
    4. D.The total number of classes in the distribution
  4. 21.

    A relative frequency distribution is correctly constructed if the relative frequencies:

    1. A.Sum to the total number of observations
    2. B.Sum to 1 (or about 1, due to rounding)
    3. C.Are all equal
    4. D.Sum to 100