WGU C784 Applied Healthcare Statistics
Final Assessment Exam 2026 | Objective
Assessment Study Guide with Frequently
Tested Questions, Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales
• This study guide contains 200 carefully crafted multiple-choice questions
mirroring the WGU C784 Applied Healthcare Statistics Final Assessment, complete
with verified answers and detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce your
understanding.
• Use this material by attempting each question independently before checking the
correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE — this active recall method maximizes
retention and exam readiness.
QUESTION 1
Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values
(outliers)?
A) Median
B) Mode
C) Range
D) Standard deviation
E) Mean
E) Mean
EXPERT RATIONALE: The mean is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the
count, so extreme values disproportionately pull it higher or lower. The median and
mode are resistant to outliers.
QUESTION 2
A researcher collects data on patient ages. What type of data is this?
,A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
C) Categorical
D) Qualitative
E) Continuous quantitative
E) Continuous quantitative
EXPERT RATIONALE: Age is measured on a continuous numerical scale, making it
continuous quantitative (ratio-level) data. Nominal and ordinal data are categorical, not
numerical.
QUESTION 3
Which of the following best describes a null hypothesis?
A) A hypothesis that predicts a significant difference
B) A hypothesis that is always true
C) A hypothesis derived from a sample
D) A hypothesis that cannot be tested
E) A hypothesis stating there is no effect or difference
E) A hypothesis stating there is no effect or difference
EXPERT RATIONALE: The null hypothesis (H₀) always assumes no relationship or
difference between variables. It is the default position that researchers attempt to
disprove.
QUESTION 4
In a normal distribution, approximately what percentage of data falls within
one standard deviation of the mean?
,A) 99.7%
B) 75%
C) 90%
D) 50%
E) 68%
E) 68%
EXPERT RATIONALE: The empirical rule (68-95-99.7 rule) states that approximately 68%
of data falls within ±1 SD, 95% within ±2 SD, and 99.7% within ±3 SD of the mean in a
normal distribution.
QUESTION 5
A p-value of 0.03 with a significance level of 0.05 means:
A) Fail to reject the null hypothesis
B) The study has no statistical power
C) The results are clinically significant
D) The sample size is too small
E) Reject the null hypothesis
E) Reject the null hypothesis
EXPERT RATIONALE: When the p-value (0.03) is less than the significance level (α = 0.05),
we reject the null hypothesis, concluding that results are statistically significant.
QUESTION 6
Which sampling method ensures every member of the population has an
equal chance of being selected?
A) Stratified sampling
, B) Convenience sampling
C) Cluster sampling
D) Purposive sampling
E) Simple random sampling
E) Simple random sampling
EXPERT RATIONALE: Simple random sampling gives every individual an equal and
independent probability of selection, minimizing selection bias and supporting
generalizability.
QUESTION 7
What does the standard deviation measure?
A) The middle value in a dataset
B) The most frequent score
C) The total range of scores
D) The difference between the highest and lowest values
E) The average distance of data points from the mean
E) The average distance of data points from the mean
EXPERT RATIONALE: Standard deviation quantifies the spread or dispersion of a dataset
by measuring how far, on average, each data point deviates from the mean.
QUESTION 8
Which type of error occurs when a researcher rejects a true null hypothesis?
A) Beta error
B) Sampling error
C) Standard error
Final Assessment Exam 2026 | Objective
Assessment Study Guide with Frequently
Tested Questions, Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales
• This study guide contains 200 carefully crafted multiple-choice questions
mirroring the WGU C784 Applied Healthcare Statistics Final Assessment, complete
with verified answers and detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce your
understanding.
• Use this material by attempting each question independently before checking the
correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE — this active recall method maximizes
retention and exam readiness.
QUESTION 1
Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values
(outliers)?
A) Median
B) Mode
C) Range
D) Standard deviation
E) Mean
E) Mean
EXPERT RATIONALE: The mean is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the
count, so extreme values disproportionately pull it higher or lower. The median and
mode are resistant to outliers.
QUESTION 2
A researcher collects data on patient ages. What type of data is this?
,A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
C) Categorical
D) Qualitative
E) Continuous quantitative
E) Continuous quantitative
EXPERT RATIONALE: Age is measured on a continuous numerical scale, making it
continuous quantitative (ratio-level) data. Nominal and ordinal data are categorical, not
numerical.
QUESTION 3
Which of the following best describes a null hypothesis?
A) A hypothesis that predicts a significant difference
B) A hypothesis that is always true
C) A hypothesis derived from a sample
D) A hypothesis that cannot be tested
E) A hypothesis stating there is no effect or difference
E) A hypothesis stating there is no effect or difference
EXPERT RATIONALE: The null hypothesis (H₀) always assumes no relationship or
difference between variables. It is the default position that researchers attempt to
disprove.
QUESTION 4
In a normal distribution, approximately what percentage of data falls within
one standard deviation of the mean?
,A) 99.7%
B) 75%
C) 90%
D) 50%
E) 68%
E) 68%
EXPERT RATIONALE: The empirical rule (68-95-99.7 rule) states that approximately 68%
of data falls within ±1 SD, 95% within ±2 SD, and 99.7% within ±3 SD of the mean in a
normal distribution.
QUESTION 5
A p-value of 0.03 with a significance level of 0.05 means:
A) Fail to reject the null hypothesis
B) The study has no statistical power
C) The results are clinically significant
D) The sample size is too small
E) Reject the null hypothesis
E) Reject the null hypothesis
EXPERT RATIONALE: When the p-value (0.03) is less than the significance level (α = 0.05),
we reject the null hypothesis, concluding that results are statistically significant.
QUESTION 6
Which sampling method ensures every member of the population has an
equal chance of being selected?
A) Stratified sampling
, B) Convenience sampling
C) Cluster sampling
D) Purposive sampling
E) Simple random sampling
E) Simple random sampling
EXPERT RATIONALE: Simple random sampling gives every individual an equal and
independent probability of selection, minimizing selection bias and supporting
generalizability.
QUESTION 7
What does the standard deviation measure?
A) The middle value in a dataset
B) The most frequent score
C) The total range of scores
D) The difference between the highest and lowest values
E) The average distance of data points from the mean
E) The average distance of data points from the mean
EXPERT RATIONALE: Standard deviation quantifies the spread or dispersion of a dataset
by measuring how far, on average, each data point deviates from the mean.
QUESTION 8
Which type of error occurs when a researcher rejects a true null hypothesis?
A) Beta error
B) Sampling error
C) Standard error
