EXSC 520 Fundamental Vocabulary Quiz | 2026 Update | 150 Questions with Multiple Choice Answers,
Correct Responses Marked, and Detailed Explanations for Each Question to Support Mastery of
Exercise Science Research Terminology.
Questions 1–150
1. What is statistics?
a) Collection of data only
b) Science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data
c) Graphing data
d) Predicting sports outcomes
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Statistics encompasses the entire process from data collection to interpretation, not just
one part.
2. Descriptive statistics…
a) Test hypotheses
b) Summarize and describe data
c) Predict population parameters
d) Control variables
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Descriptive statistics (mean, SD, frequency) simply describe sample data.
3. Inferential statistics allow us to…
a) Draw conclusions about a population from a sample
b) List raw data
c) Create pie charts
d) Eliminate error
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Inferential statistics generalize from sample to population using probability.
4. A variable is…
a) A constant value
b) Any characteristic that can take on different values
,c) Only numerical data
d) A research question
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Variables vary across subjects or conditions (e.g., heart rate, age).
5. An independent variable is…
a) The outcome
b) Manipulated or selected by the researcher
c) Always categorical
d) Measured after the study
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: The IV is the presumed cause or grouping variable.
6. A dependent variable is…
a) The presumed effect or outcome
b) Controlled by the participant
c) The same as the independent variable
d) Never measured
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: The DV is measured to see if it changes due to the IV.
7. A confounding variable…
a) Is intended by design
b) Has no effect on results
c) Unintentionally affects the relationship between IV and DV
d) Is always categorical
Correct Answer: c
Explanation: Confounds threaten internal validity by providing alternative explanations.
8. A continuous variable can…
a) Only take whole numbers
b) Take any value within a range (e.g., 1.5 kg)
c) Only be male/female
d) Only be nominal
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Continuous variables (weight, time) have infinite possible values between points.
,9. A discrete variable…
a) Has no gaps in values
b) Takes only specific, separate values (e.g., number of reps)
c) Is always ordinal
d) Cannot be counted
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Discrete variables (e.g., push-ups completed) are countable integers.
10. Nominal scale…
a) Has order
b) Has equal intervals
c) Categorizes without order (e.g., sport type)
d) Has a true zero
Correct Answer: c
Explanation: Nominal = names only (male/female, team A/B).
11. Ordinal scale…
a) Has rank order but unequal intervals
b) Has equal intervals
c) Has a true zero
d) Cannot be ranked
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Ordinal = order matters but differences between ranks are unknown (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd
place).
12. Interval scale…
a) No true zero, equal intervals
b) True zero
c) No order
d) Categories only
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Interval (e.g., Celsius) has equal differences but zero doesn’t mean absence.
13. Ratio scale…
, a) Categorical only
b) True zero and equal intervals
c) Rank only
d) No arithmetic possible
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Ratio (e.g., height, VO2max) has meaningful zero and equal ratios.
14. A population is…
a) A subset of a sample
b) The entire group of interest
c) Always small
d) The same as a sample
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Population includes all possible subjects meeting criteria.
15. A sample is…
a) The entire population
b) A subset of the population
c) Always random
d) Never used in research
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Samples are drawn to represent populations.
16. A parameter describes a…
a) Sample
b) Population
c) Variable
d) Graph
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Parameter = numerical summary of population (e.g., μ).
17. A statistic describes a…
a) Population
b) Sample
c) Hypothesis
d) Confound
Correct Responses Marked, and Detailed Explanations for Each Question to Support Mastery of
Exercise Science Research Terminology.
Questions 1–150
1. What is statistics?
a) Collection of data only
b) Science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data
c) Graphing data
d) Predicting sports outcomes
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Statistics encompasses the entire process from data collection to interpretation, not just
one part.
2. Descriptive statistics…
a) Test hypotheses
b) Summarize and describe data
c) Predict population parameters
d) Control variables
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Descriptive statistics (mean, SD, frequency) simply describe sample data.
3. Inferential statistics allow us to…
a) Draw conclusions about a population from a sample
b) List raw data
c) Create pie charts
d) Eliminate error
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Inferential statistics generalize from sample to population using probability.
4. A variable is…
a) A constant value
b) Any characteristic that can take on different values
,c) Only numerical data
d) A research question
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Variables vary across subjects or conditions (e.g., heart rate, age).
5. An independent variable is…
a) The outcome
b) Manipulated or selected by the researcher
c) Always categorical
d) Measured after the study
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: The IV is the presumed cause or grouping variable.
6. A dependent variable is…
a) The presumed effect or outcome
b) Controlled by the participant
c) The same as the independent variable
d) Never measured
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: The DV is measured to see if it changes due to the IV.
7. A confounding variable…
a) Is intended by design
b) Has no effect on results
c) Unintentionally affects the relationship between IV and DV
d) Is always categorical
Correct Answer: c
Explanation: Confounds threaten internal validity by providing alternative explanations.
8. A continuous variable can…
a) Only take whole numbers
b) Take any value within a range (e.g., 1.5 kg)
c) Only be male/female
d) Only be nominal
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Continuous variables (weight, time) have infinite possible values between points.
,9. A discrete variable…
a) Has no gaps in values
b) Takes only specific, separate values (e.g., number of reps)
c) Is always ordinal
d) Cannot be counted
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Discrete variables (e.g., push-ups completed) are countable integers.
10. Nominal scale…
a) Has order
b) Has equal intervals
c) Categorizes without order (e.g., sport type)
d) Has a true zero
Correct Answer: c
Explanation: Nominal = names only (male/female, team A/B).
11. Ordinal scale…
a) Has rank order but unequal intervals
b) Has equal intervals
c) Has a true zero
d) Cannot be ranked
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Ordinal = order matters but differences between ranks are unknown (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd
place).
12. Interval scale…
a) No true zero, equal intervals
b) True zero
c) No order
d) Categories only
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Interval (e.g., Celsius) has equal differences but zero doesn’t mean absence.
13. Ratio scale…
, a) Categorical only
b) True zero and equal intervals
c) Rank only
d) No arithmetic possible
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Ratio (e.g., height, VO2max) has meaningful zero and equal ratios.
14. A population is…
a) A subset of a sample
b) The entire group of interest
c) Always small
d) The same as a sample
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Population includes all possible subjects meeting criteria.
15. A sample is…
a) The entire population
b) A subset of the population
c) Always random
d) Never used in research
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Samples are drawn to represent populations.
16. A parameter describes a…
a) Sample
b) Population
c) Variable
d) Graph
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Parameter = numerical summary of population (e.g., μ).
17. A statistic describes a…
a) Population
b) Sample
c) Hypothesis
d) Confound
