Quantitative Methods Final Exam
statistics questions and answers
2026\2027 A+ Grade
Given a data set with a standard deviation of 7 and a range of 60, you should conclude that the
distribution is
A. platykurtic
B. leptokurtic
C. mesokurtic
D. skewed
- correct answer B. leptokurtic
If a researcher asks subjects to identify their sexual orientation as either heterosexual, homosexual, or
bisexual, sexual orientation is being measured on an ordinal level.
A. True
B. False
- correct answer B. False
In a sample of high school runners' times in the 1600 meters, the mode was 4:50, the mean was 4:35,
and the median was 4:42. What can we say about the distribution?
A. It's negatively skewed
B. It's positively skewed
C. It's normal (not skewed)
D. Nothing - the numbers don't allow us to say anything about the form of the distribution.
- correct answer A. It's negatively skewed
In a single-sample t-test, as the sample SD increases, the size of the obtained t-value ____, making it
______ likely to reject the null hypothesis.
,A. increases; more
B. increases; less
C. decreases; more
D. decreases; less
- correct answer D. decreases; less
In estimating the standard error of the mean, we use the sample SD, but then divide it by the square
root of N-1 instead of N. Why?
A. The sample SD is a biased estimate, consistently overestimating the population SD
B. The sample SD is a biased estimate, consistently underestimating the population SD
C. Dr. Kilianski and the text author say to do it that way.
D. An uppercase N has an inflated ego, and needs a correction factor to induce some humility.
- correct answer B. The sample SD is a biased estimate, consistently underestimating the population SD
In experimental research, the dependent variable represents the cause, and the independent variable
represents the effect.
True
False
- correct answer False
Inferential statistics are referred to as 'inferential' because they are used to draw conclusions about ___
from ___.
A. populations; samples
B. samples; populations
C. independent variables; dependent variables
D. dependent variables; independent variables
- correct answer A. populations; samples
Only if the researcher manipulates an independent variable can a study be considered an experiment.
True
False
- correct answer True
, The average variation from the mean in a set of measurements in a sample is the conceptual definition
of the
A. interquartile range
B. standard deviation.
C. variance.
D. standard error of the mean.
- correct answer B. standard deviation.
The null hypothesis for the single-sample t-test is that any difference between the sample mean and the
population mean is due to
A. chance
B. random variation
C. sampling error
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
- correct answer D. all of the above
The sampling distribution of the mean has a standard deviation referred to as the
A. normal standard deviation
B. the standard error of the difference
C. the variance of the population
D. the standard error of the mean
- correct answer D. the standard error of the mean
The t-test or the z-test can be used if the dependent variable is nominal.
True
False
- correct answer False
statistics questions and answers
2026\2027 A+ Grade
Given a data set with a standard deviation of 7 and a range of 60, you should conclude that the
distribution is
A. platykurtic
B. leptokurtic
C. mesokurtic
D. skewed
- correct answer B. leptokurtic
If a researcher asks subjects to identify their sexual orientation as either heterosexual, homosexual, or
bisexual, sexual orientation is being measured on an ordinal level.
A. True
B. False
- correct answer B. False
In a sample of high school runners' times in the 1600 meters, the mode was 4:50, the mean was 4:35,
and the median was 4:42. What can we say about the distribution?
A. It's negatively skewed
B. It's positively skewed
C. It's normal (not skewed)
D. Nothing - the numbers don't allow us to say anything about the form of the distribution.
- correct answer A. It's negatively skewed
In a single-sample t-test, as the sample SD increases, the size of the obtained t-value ____, making it
______ likely to reject the null hypothesis.
,A. increases; more
B. increases; less
C. decreases; more
D. decreases; less
- correct answer D. decreases; less
In estimating the standard error of the mean, we use the sample SD, but then divide it by the square
root of N-1 instead of N. Why?
A. The sample SD is a biased estimate, consistently overestimating the population SD
B. The sample SD is a biased estimate, consistently underestimating the population SD
C. Dr. Kilianski and the text author say to do it that way.
D. An uppercase N has an inflated ego, and needs a correction factor to induce some humility.
- correct answer B. The sample SD is a biased estimate, consistently underestimating the population SD
In experimental research, the dependent variable represents the cause, and the independent variable
represents the effect.
True
False
- correct answer False
Inferential statistics are referred to as 'inferential' because they are used to draw conclusions about ___
from ___.
A. populations; samples
B. samples; populations
C. independent variables; dependent variables
D. dependent variables; independent variables
- correct answer A. populations; samples
Only if the researcher manipulates an independent variable can a study be considered an experiment.
True
False
- correct answer True
, The average variation from the mean in a set of measurements in a sample is the conceptual definition
of the
A. interquartile range
B. standard deviation.
C. variance.
D. standard error of the mean.
- correct answer B. standard deviation.
The null hypothesis for the single-sample t-test is that any difference between the sample mean and the
population mean is due to
A. chance
B. random variation
C. sampling error
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
- correct answer D. all of the above
The sampling distribution of the mean has a standard deviation referred to as the
A. normal standard deviation
B. the standard error of the difference
C. the variance of the population
D. the standard error of the mean
- correct answer D. the standard error of the mean
The t-test or the z-test can be used if the dependent variable is nominal.
True
False
- correct answer False
