EXSC 520 Fundamental Vocabulary Quiz | 2026 Update | Combined Version (Versions 1–3) | 450
Questions with Multiple Choice Answers, Correct Responses Marked, and Detailed Explanations for
Each Question to Support Mastery of Exercise Science Research Terminology.
VERSION 1 (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
2. Descriptive statistics…
a) Test hypotheses
b) Summarize and describe data
c) Predict population parameters
d) Control variables
Correct Answer: b
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
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
,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
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
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
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
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
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
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
12. Interval scale…
a) No true zero, equal intervals
b) True zero
c) No order
d) Categories only
Correct Answer: a
13. Ratio scale…
a) Categorical only
b) True zero and equal intervals
c) Rank only
d) No arithmetic possible
Correct Answer: b
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
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
16. A parameter describes a…
a) Sample
b) Population
c) Variable
d) Graph
Correct Answer: b
17. A statistic describes a…
a) Population
b) Sample
c) Hypothesis
d) Confound
Correct Answer: b
18. Sampling error is…
a) Mistake by researcher
b) Difference between sample statistic and population parameter
c) Always zero
d) Avoidable with large N
Correct Answer: b
Questions with Multiple Choice Answers, Correct Responses Marked, and Detailed Explanations for
Each Question to Support Mastery of Exercise Science Research Terminology.
VERSION 1 (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
2. Descriptive statistics…
a) Test hypotheses
b) Summarize and describe data
c) Predict population parameters
d) Control variables
Correct Answer: b
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
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
,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
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
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
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
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
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
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
12. Interval scale…
a) No true zero, equal intervals
b) True zero
c) No order
d) Categories only
Correct Answer: a
13. Ratio scale…
a) Categorical only
b) True zero and equal intervals
c) Rank only
d) No arithmetic possible
Correct Answer: b
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
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
16. A parameter describes a…
a) Sample
b) Population
c) Variable
d) Graph
Correct Answer: b
17. A statistic describes a…
a) Population
b) Sample
c) Hypothesis
d) Confound
Correct Answer: b
18. Sampling error is…
a) Mistake by researcher
b) Difference between sample statistic and population parameter
c) Always zero
d) Avoidable with large N
Correct Answer: b
