Chapter 1 Test Statistics

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

Variable

Statistics is the science of conducting studies to

Collect, organize, summarize, analyze, and draw conclusions from data

What are variables with values that are determined by chance called?

Random variables

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

Datum

What type of variable would a weather center be investigating when monitoring tornado averages?

Random variable

Which branch of statistics employs probability to make predictions?

Predictive statistics

Which branch of statistics involves recording data from tested objects like cars?

Descriptive statistics

What describes the relationship between a sample and a population?

A sample is a group of subjects selected from a population to be studied

Based on a graph, what can we conclude about the relationship between exam preparation time and grades?

There is a possible relationship between grades and time spent preparing for the exam

If four students from a class of twenty were surveyed, this is an example of

Sampling

What level of measurement classifies data into mutually exclusive categories with no order?

Nominal

An independent variable can also be referred to as a(n)

Explanatory variable

What level of measurement possesses all characteristics of interval measurement and has a true zero?

Ratio

If a researcher manipulates a variable to determine its effects on others, they are conducting a(n)

Experimental study

Classifying fruit as apple, orange, or banana is an example of which level of measurement?

Nominal

What is the best description of the relationship between confounding, dependent, and independent variables?

The confounding variable influences the dependent variable, but cannot be separated from the independent variable

If subjects are assigned to groups randomly, this is called a

True experimental study

What would be the boundaries on the average age for high school graduates reported as 18?

17.5-18.5 years old

The time needed to run a marathon is an example of which type of variable?

Continuous

What type of sampling is used if a sample is chosen from each economic class?

Stratified sampling

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

False

Inferential statistics is based on probability theory.

True

When running an experimental study, what is the group that is manipulated?

Treatment group

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

False

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

False

In a study, if height is the independent variable and age is the dependent variable, is that true?

True

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

True

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

True

A student still needs to learn how statistical computations are performed even if calculators are easier.

True

Based on past bills, expecting a specific monthly payment is an example of descriptive statistics.

False

A person's hair color is an example of a quantitative variable.

False

If every 14th customer is surveyed, this is an example of systematic sampling.

True

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

True

It is always preferable for the researcher to choose participants carefully rather than randomly.

False

One advantage of observational studies is that they occur in a natural setting.

True