True of False: Statistics is used to prove claims. - ANSWER False
What are Variables? - ANSWER Variables are measurable characteristics that can vary in
value.
My answer: Variables are different types of data in an experiment (used to classify the type
of data being collected)
What type of scale is used when labeling or using categories? - ANSWER This would be
qualitative data and the SCALE would be nominal! Ex: blood type, college majors, room num-
bers
True or false: it is generally feasible to collect data from every member of a population - AN-
SWER FALSE! unless the target of a particular research study is comprised of a small pop-
ulation, it is usually not practical or sensible to attempt to reach every member within a pop-
ulation
Which of the following are examples of ordinal variables? Select all that apply.
- Shirt sizes
- college major
- places in a marathon (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Temperature - ANSWER -shirt sizes, places in a marathon Explanation: ordinal is used for
qualitative variables and includes ranking in size or measure (does not indicate how much
the data differ)
1
,When a variable can contain negative values, what type of scale is most appropriate? Why? -
ANSWER An interval scale because variables containing negative values do not have an
absolute zero. Note: this is quantitative data
When is it most appropriate to use a ratio scale? - ANSWER A ratio scale is used when a
variable has an absolute zero (Ex: height, weight, exam scores, GPA)
Note: this is quantitative data
True or false: statistics are used to communicate results but can be used to mislead individu-
als - ANSWER TRUE!
Provide an example of quantitative variable and an example of a qualitative variable - AN-
SWER Quantitative Ex: test scores, reaction time, error number, vital signs, temperature
Qualitative Ex: sex, college major, eye color, blood type, shirt size
How are sample and population related? - ANSWER A population includes every member
within a particular group, whereas a sample is a smaller subset of the given population (used
to represent the whole population)
True or false: discrete variables are counted as whole numbers - ANSWER TRUE! discrete
variables are quantitative variables that can be organized into separate categories or
counted using whole numbers. Ex: number of patients in a hospital, pets in a home
_________ statistics involves analyses that provide a way to summarize and describe data,
whereas _________ statistics are performed for researchers to make inferences and general-
izations about populations based on sample data. - ANSWER Answer: descriptive; infer-
ential Explanation: descriptive statistics involve calcluations like mean, median, mode, stand-
ard deviation, variance, and range. Inferential statistics involve calculations such as those use
for hypothesis testing (z-scorem, t-test, ANOVA, correctional analyses).
2
,Which of the following is NOT involved in the process of sampling?
- identify goals
- collect data
- make conclusions
- obtain resources - ANSWER Answer: obtain resources Explanation: the steps are identify
goals, gather sample, make inferences/conclusions
A movie theater is interested in how movie-goers would rate the current movies being
shown. They survey a group of 100 movie-goers and ask each to rate the movie they saw on
a scale of 1-5 (1 = terrible, 5 = excellent). The surveyors then calculate the average rating of
each movie. This is an example of what kind of statistic?
- descriptive statistics
- sample statistics
- parametric statistics
- inferential statistics - ANSWER descriptive statistic because average rating of movie is a
calculation used to summarize / describe
Which of the following is a discrete variable? Select all that apply.
- Number of pets per household
- distance
- number of patients at a hospital
- exam scores - ANSWER number of pets per household, number of patients at a hospital
because discrete variables can ONLY be counted as whole numbers!
Name a continuous variable. Why is it considered continuous? - ANSWER Ex: weight,
temperature, time, length, and speed.
continuous variables are variables that can be broken down into smaller, fractional compo-
nents (decimals, fractions, etc). It does NOT have to be a whole number
3
, Which of the following fields do NOT use statistics?
- politics
- sports
- entertainment
- medicine
- none of these fields use statistics
- all of these fields use statistics - ANSWER all of these fields use statistics
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding populations?
- it is expected that every member of a population will agree to participate in a study.
- studying every member of a population is how most behavioral and clinical studies are con-
ducted
- it is only practical to reach all members of small populations
- only one method is used to gather samples from populations - ANSWER it is only practi-
cal to reach all members of small populations
A team of clinical researchers is studying stress levels of a sample of 15 paramedics undergo-
ing a new training program at a local hospital. The researchers stage two hypothetical medi-
cal emergencies for the paramedics: one low stakes and one high stakes. Then they measure
their cortisol levels. The scenarios are administered at the same time every day, but the loca-
tion changes based on the scenario being presented. In this experiment - identify the inde-
pendent, dependent, control, and extraneous variables. - ANSWER Independent: emer-
gency situations (scenario)
Dependent: cortisol levels
Control: time of day
Extraneous variables: location
Note: Extraneous variables are any variable not being investigated that has the potential to
affect the outcome of a research study. Control variable is an experimental element which is
constant (controlled) and unchanged throughout!
4
What are Variables? - ANSWER Variables are measurable characteristics that can vary in
value.
My answer: Variables are different types of data in an experiment (used to classify the type
of data being collected)
What type of scale is used when labeling or using categories? - ANSWER This would be
qualitative data and the SCALE would be nominal! Ex: blood type, college majors, room num-
bers
True or false: it is generally feasible to collect data from every member of a population - AN-
SWER FALSE! unless the target of a particular research study is comprised of a small pop-
ulation, it is usually not practical or sensible to attempt to reach every member within a pop-
ulation
Which of the following are examples of ordinal variables? Select all that apply.
- Shirt sizes
- college major
- places in a marathon (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Temperature - ANSWER -shirt sizes, places in a marathon Explanation: ordinal is used for
qualitative variables and includes ranking in size or measure (does not indicate how much
the data differ)
1
,When a variable can contain negative values, what type of scale is most appropriate? Why? -
ANSWER An interval scale because variables containing negative values do not have an
absolute zero. Note: this is quantitative data
When is it most appropriate to use a ratio scale? - ANSWER A ratio scale is used when a
variable has an absolute zero (Ex: height, weight, exam scores, GPA)
Note: this is quantitative data
True or false: statistics are used to communicate results but can be used to mislead individu-
als - ANSWER TRUE!
Provide an example of quantitative variable and an example of a qualitative variable - AN-
SWER Quantitative Ex: test scores, reaction time, error number, vital signs, temperature
Qualitative Ex: sex, college major, eye color, blood type, shirt size
How are sample and population related? - ANSWER A population includes every member
within a particular group, whereas a sample is a smaller subset of the given population (used
to represent the whole population)
True or false: discrete variables are counted as whole numbers - ANSWER TRUE! discrete
variables are quantitative variables that can be organized into separate categories or
counted using whole numbers. Ex: number of patients in a hospital, pets in a home
_________ statistics involves analyses that provide a way to summarize and describe data,
whereas _________ statistics are performed for researchers to make inferences and general-
izations about populations based on sample data. - ANSWER Answer: descriptive; infer-
ential Explanation: descriptive statistics involve calcluations like mean, median, mode, stand-
ard deviation, variance, and range. Inferential statistics involve calculations such as those use
for hypothesis testing (z-scorem, t-test, ANOVA, correctional analyses).
2
,Which of the following is NOT involved in the process of sampling?
- identify goals
- collect data
- make conclusions
- obtain resources - ANSWER Answer: obtain resources Explanation: the steps are identify
goals, gather sample, make inferences/conclusions
A movie theater is interested in how movie-goers would rate the current movies being
shown. They survey a group of 100 movie-goers and ask each to rate the movie they saw on
a scale of 1-5 (1 = terrible, 5 = excellent). The surveyors then calculate the average rating of
each movie. This is an example of what kind of statistic?
- descriptive statistics
- sample statistics
- parametric statistics
- inferential statistics - ANSWER descriptive statistic because average rating of movie is a
calculation used to summarize / describe
Which of the following is a discrete variable? Select all that apply.
- Number of pets per household
- distance
- number of patients at a hospital
- exam scores - ANSWER number of pets per household, number of patients at a hospital
because discrete variables can ONLY be counted as whole numbers!
Name a continuous variable. Why is it considered continuous? - ANSWER Ex: weight,
temperature, time, length, and speed.
continuous variables are variables that can be broken down into smaller, fractional compo-
nents (decimals, fractions, etc). It does NOT have to be a whole number
3
, Which of the following fields do NOT use statistics?
- politics
- sports
- entertainment
- medicine
- none of these fields use statistics
- all of these fields use statistics - ANSWER all of these fields use statistics
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding populations?
- it is expected that every member of a population will agree to participate in a study.
- studying every member of a population is how most behavioral and clinical studies are con-
ducted
- it is only practical to reach all members of small populations
- only one method is used to gather samples from populations - ANSWER it is only practi-
cal to reach all members of small populations
A team of clinical researchers is studying stress levels of a sample of 15 paramedics undergo-
ing a new training program at a local hospital. The researchers stage two hypothetical medi-
cal emergencies for the paramedics: one low stakes and one high stakes. Then they measure
their cortisol levels. The scenarios are administered at the same time every day, but the loca-
tion changes based on the scenario being presented. In this experiment - identify the inde-
pendent, dependent, control, and extraneous variables. - ANSWER Independent: emer-
gency situations (scenario)
Dependent: cortisol levels
Control: time of day
Extraneous variables: location
Note: Extraneous variables are any variable not being investigated that has the potential to
affect the outcome of a research study. Control variable is an experimental element which is
constant (controlled) and unchanged throughout!
4
