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WGU C784 Applied Healthcare Statistics Objective
Assessment #1 Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100%
Verified – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Basic Statistical Concepts & Vocabulary
Q1: A hospital administrator wants to study the average recovery time for all patients who
underwent knee surgery at their facility last year. In this scenario, the entire group of patients is
best described as which of the following?
A. Sample
B. Statistic
C. Population [CORRECT]
D. Variable
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The population refers to the complete set of individuals or items of interest in a study;
since the administrator is looking at all patients who had the surgery last year, this constitutes the
population.
Q2: In a research study examining the effect of a new diet on blood glucose levels, the specific
diet given to the participants is considered:
A. The dependent variable
B. The independent variable [CORRECT]
C. A confounding variable
D. A continuous variable
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the
researcher to observe its effect; in this case, the new diet is what is being tested.
Q3: Which of the following sampling methods involves dividing the population into subgroups
(strata) and then randomly selecting samples from each stratum?
,2
A. Simple random sampling
B. Convenience sampling
C. Stratified sampling [CORRECT]
D. Cluster sampling
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stratified sampling ensures representation from specific subgroups within the
population by randomly selecting participants from each distinct stratum or category.
Q4: If a dataset contains values that can only be whole numbers (e.g., number of children in a
family), which type of variable is this?
A. Continuous
B. Discrete [CORRECT]
C. Nominal
D. Interval
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Discrete variables are countable numbers that have gaps between them; you cannot
have 2.5 children, so this is a discrete variable.
Q5: A researcher records the blood type (O, A, B, AB) of 50 patients. What level of measurement
is being used?
A. Nominal [CORRECT]
B. Ordinal
C. Ratio
D. Interval
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nominal data is used for labeling variables without any quantitative value or order;
blood types are categories with no inherent ranking.
,3
Q6: Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a parameter and a
statistic?
A. A parameter is a number that describes a sample, while a statistic is a number that describes a
population.
B. A parameter is a number that describes a population, while a statistic is a number that
describes a sample. [CORRECT]
C. Parameters are always qualitative, while statistics are always quantitative.
D. Statistics are always accurate, while parameters are always estimates.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A parameter is a numerical summary of a population, whereas a statistic is a numerical
summary of a sample drawn from that population.
Q7: In a study, a variable that influences both the independent variable and the dependent
variable, potentially leading to a false association, is known as a:
A. Control variable
B. Confounding variable [CORRECT]
C. Placebo
D. Stratifier
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A confounding variable is an outside influence that changes the relationship between
the independent and dependent variables, making it difficult to determine the true effect.
Q8: Which type of study follows a group of individuals over a period of time to observe
outcomes as they occur?
A. Cross-sectional study
B. Case-control study
C. Cohort study [CORRECT]
D. Experimental study
Correct Answer: C
, 4
Rationale: A cohort study is longitudinal and observational, following a group (cohort) over time
to see how different exposures affect outcomes.
Q9: A nurse researcher surveys every 5th patient entering the clinic on a Tuesday. This sampling
method is best described as:
A. Systematic sampling [CORRECT]
B. Simple random sampling
C. Cluster sampling
D. Judgment sampling
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Systematic sampling selects participants at a regular interval from an ordered list; in
this case, the interval is every 5th patient.
Q10: If a test consistently measures a patient's body temperature correctly, it is said to have high:
A. Validity
B. Reliability [CORRECT]
C. Variability
D. Bias
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure; if the test gives the same result
repeatedly under the same conditions, it is reliable.
Q11: Which of the following is an example of a qualitative (categorical) variable?
A. Height in centimeters
B. Weight in kilograms
C. Marital status [CORRECT]
D. Temperature in Fahrenheit
Correct Answer: C
WGU C784 Applied Healthcare Statistics Objective
Assessment #1 Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100%
Verified – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Basic Statistical Concepts & Vocabulary
Q1: A hospital administrator wants to study the average recovery time for all patients who
underwent knee surgery at their facility last year. In this scenario, the entire group of patients is
best described as which of the following?
A. Sample
B. Statistic
C. Population [CORRECT]
D. Variable
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The population refers to the complete set of individuals or items of interest in a study;
since the administrator is looking at all patients who had the surgery last year, this constitutes the
population.
Q2: In a research study examining the effect of a new diet on blood glucose levels, the specific
diet given to the participants is considered:
A. The dependent variable
B. The independent variable [CORRECT]
C. A confounding variable
D. A continuous variable
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the
researcher to observe its effect; in this case, the new diet is what is being tested.
Q3: Which of the following sampling methods involves dividing the population into subgroups
(strata) and then randomly selecting samples from each stratum?
,2
A. Simple random sampling
B. Convenience sampling
C. Stratified sampling [CORRECT]
D. Cluster sampling
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stratified sampling ensures representation from specific subgroups within the
population by randomly selecting participants from each distinct stratum or category.
Q4: If a dataset contains values that can only be whole numbers (e.g., number of children in a
family), which type of variable is this?
A. Continuous
B. Discrete [CORRECT]
C. Nominal
D. Interval
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Discrete variables are countable numbers that have gaps between them; you cannot
have 2.5 children, so this is a discrete variable.
Q5: A researcher records the blood type (O, A, B, AB) of 50 patients. What level of measurement
is being used?
A. Nominal [CORRECT]
B. Ordinal
C. Ratio
D. Interval
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nominal data is used for labeling variables without any quantitative value or order;
blood types are categories with no inherent ranking.
,3
Q6: Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a parameter and a
statistic?
A. A parameter is a number that describes a sample, while a statistic is a number that describes a
population.
B. A parameter is a number that describes a population, while a statistic is a number that
describes a sample. [CORRECT]
C. Parameters are always qualitative, while statistics are always quantitative.
D. Statistics are always accurate, while parameters are always estimates.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A parameter is a numerical summary of a population, whereas a statistic is a numerical
summary of a sample drawn from that population.
Q7: In a study, a variable that influences both the independent variable and the dependent
variable, potentially leading to a false association, is known as a:
A. Control variable
B. Confounding variable [CORRECT]
C. Placebo
D. Stratifier
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A confounding variable is an outside influence that changes the relationship between
the independent and dependent variables, making it difficult to determine the true effect.
Q8: Which type of study follows a group of individuals over a period of time to observe
outcomes as they occur?
A. Cross-sectional study
B. Case-control study
C. Cohort study [CORRECT]
D. Experimental study
Correct Answer: C
, 4
Rationale: A cohort study is longitudinal and observational, following a group (cohort) over time
to see how different exposures affect outcomes.
Q9: A nurse researcher surveys every 5th patient entering the clinic on a Tuesday. This sampling
method is best described as:
A. Systematic sampling [CORRECT]
B. Simple random sampling
C. Cluster sampling
D. Judgment sampling
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Systematic sampling selects participants at a regular interval from an ordered list; in
this case, the interval is every 5th patient.
Q10: If a test consistently measures a patient's body temperature correctly, it is said to have high:
A. Validity
B. Reliability [CORRECT]
C. Variability
D. Bias
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure; if the test gives the same result
repeatedly under the same conditions, it is reliable.
Q11: Which of the following is an example of a qualitative (categorical) variable?
A. Height in centimeters
B. Weight in kilograms
C. Marital status [CORRECT]
D. Temperature in Fahrenheit
Correct Answer: C
