Math 105 Midterm Review SP23 Exam Questions
& Answers
Sample surveys such as the General Social Survey and the Current Population Survey are an
important kind of:
a. Individual
b. Census
c. Experiment
d. Observational Study - Correct answer d. Observational Study
The Gallup Poll is an example of a:
a. Census
b. Experiment
c. Sample Survey
d. Population - Correct answer c. Sample Survey
Which of the following situations is an example of an observational study?
I. You ask a sample of doctors their opinions about the health risks involved with going out in
the cold air with a wet head.
II. You take notes and observe at a local gym your fellow members who go outside with a wet
head and notice if they are sick when they return to the gym at a later date.
III. You find 30 adults who are divided in two groups—those who go out with wet heads in the
cold air and those who do not go out with wet heads in the cold air. You then compare the
number of each group who get sick within two to three days. - Correct answer II. You take
notes and observe at a local gym your fellow members who go outside with a wet head and
notice if they are sick when they return to the gym at a later date.
Which of these situations is an example of an experiment?
I. You ask a sample of doctors their opinions about the health risks involved with going out in
the cold air with a wet head.
II. You take notes and observe at a local gym your fellow members who go outside with a wet
head and notice if they are sick when they return to the gym at a later date.
III. You find 30 adults who are divided in two groups—those who go out with wet heads in the
cold air and those who do not go out with wet heads in the cold air. You then compare the
number of each group who get sick within two to three days. - Correct answer III. You find 30
adults who are divided in two groups—those who go out with wet heads in the cold air and
those who do not go out with wet heads in the cold air. You then compare the number of each
group who get sick within two to three days.
What is the difference between a census and a sample survey?
a. A census looks at a larger group than a sample survey to gather information about the
population.
b. A census attempts to include the entire population in the survey whereas a sample survey
only studies some of the members of the population.
c. A census can study many variables whereas a sample survey can only study one or two.
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,d. A census can only be conducted by a government whereas a sample survey can be
conducted by anyone. - Correct answer b. A census attempts to include the entire population in
the survey whereas a sample survey only studies some of the members of the population.
The AC Nielsen ratings is an example of a:
a. Sample Survey
b. Census
c. Population
d. Experiment - Correct answer a. Sample Survey
A local newspaper in the State of Connecticut conducts a poll on whether the "No Child Left
Behind" law is effective. 1000 people are surveyed. The population of this poll is:
a.
The 1000 people surveyed
b.
The State of Connecticut
c.
Those who favor or disapprove of the "No Child Left Behind" law
d.
Those who are affected by "No Child Left Behind"
Feedback - Correct answer b. The State of Connecticut
The difference between an experiment and an observational study is:
a. An experiment does not change behavior, an observational study does.
b. An experiment deliberately imposes a treatment whereas an observational study measures
the unintentional effects of the treatment as a result of the observation being done.
c. An observational study tries to gather information without interfering; an experiment looks to
actively impose a treatment to see how subjects respond. - Correct answer c. An observational
study tries to gather information without interfering; an experiment looks to actively impose a
treatment to see how subjects respond.
If a statistical study systematically favors certain outcomes, then it is:
a. A voluntary response sample
b. Simple random sample
c. A convenience sample
d. Biased - Correct answer d. Biased
"American Idol" asks viewers to call in to vote on the best candidate. This is an example of (a):
a. convenience sampling
b. voluntary response sample
c. observational study
d. simple random sample - Correct answer b. voluntary response sample
You decide to conduct a sample survey of 10 classmates about the college's alcohol policy. You
decide to survey the first 10 people to walk in the door. This is an example of:
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, Select one:
a. observational study
b. voluntary response sample
c. convenience sampling
d. simple random sample - Correct answer c. convenience sampling
Women's Daily, a magazine which caters primarily to an over-40 female audience, conducts a
survey in their magazine about which sex (male or female) cheats more. This survey is biased
because:
a. The opinions may be very different from those of the population as a whole.
b. The survey overrepresents some parts of the population and underrepresents others.
c. Only those that feel strongly about the position may respond to the poll.
d. All of the above. - Correct answer d. All of the above.
A sampling method that best avoids bias is (a):
a. A voluntary response sample
b. A convenience sample
c. Simple random sample
d. None of the above - Correct answer c. Simple random sample
To choose a random sample, you could:
a. Put all the names in a hat and draw out a handful
b. Assign each individual a number and use the table of random digits
c. Assign a random number to each individual, sort the numbers in numerical order, and choose
individuals from the top of the sorted list.
d. Any of the above - Correct answer d. Any of the above
You want to conduct an SRS of eight people in the class. The following people are in your class:
Andrew, Bill, Chris, Dave, Ellen, Frank, Greg, Hank, Iggy, Judy, Ken, Larry, Maureen, Nancy,
Otto, Pauline, Ron, Sam, Tom, Uma, Vivian, Warrren, Xavier, Yan, and Zander. How could you
get your sample?
a. Choose the first eight people who walk in the door
b. Choose the eight people that you know would answer the survey
c. Arrange the names alphabetically and choose the first eight people in the list.
d. Assign them numbers from 01 to 25 and use the table of random digits.
e. All of the above are valid for an SRS. - Correct answer d. Assign them numbers from 01 to
25 and use the table of random digits.
Suppose a packaging inspector decides to inspect a sample from a crate of eggs for freshness.
Each crate has 5 trays of 30 eggs each stacked on top of each other. The inspector decides to
examine only the top row. Why is this sample biased?
a. Each egg didn't have an equal chance of being chosen in the sample.
b. The top row may not be representative of the entire crate of eggs for freshness.
c. The inspector was convenience sampling which is typically biased.
d. All of the above. - Correct answer d. All of the above
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& Answers
Sample surveys such as the General Social Survey and the Current Population Survey are an
important kind of:
a. Individual
b. Census
c. Experiment
d. Observational Study - Correct answer d. Observational Study
The Gallup Poll is an example of a:
a. Census
b. Experiment
c. Sample Survey
d. Population - Correct answer c. Sample Survey
Which of the following situations is an example of an observational study?
I. You ask a sample of doctors their opinions about the health risks involved with going out in
the cold air with a wet head.
II. You take notes and observe at a local gym your fellow members who go outside with a wet
head and notice if they are sick when they return to the gym at a later date.
III. You find 30 adults who are divided in two groups—those who go out with wet heads in the
cold air and those who do not go out with wet heads in the cold air. You then compare the
number of each group who get sick within two to three days. - Correct answer II. You take
notes and observe at a local gym your fellow members who go outside with a wet head and
notice if they are sick when they return to the gym at a later date.
Which of these situations is an example of an experiment?
I. You ask a sample of doctors their opinions about the health risks involved with going out in
the cold air with a wet head.
II. You take notes and observe at a local gym your fellow members who go outside with a wet
head and notice if they are sick when they return to the gym at a later date.
III. You find 30 adults who are divided in two groups—those who go out with wet heads in the
cold air and those who do not go out with wet heads in the cold air. You then compare the
number of each group who get sick within two to three days. - Correct answer III. You find 30
adults who are divided in two groups—those who go out with wet heads in the cold air and
those who do not go out with wet heads in the cold air. You then compare the number of each
group who get sick within two to three days.
What is the difference between a census and a sample survey?
a. A census looks at a larger group than a sample survey to gather information about the
population.
b. A census attempts to include the entire population in the survey whereas a sample survey
only studies some of the members of the population.
c. A census can study many variables whereas a sample survey can only study one or two.
P a g e 1 | 26
,d. A census can only be conducted by a government whereas a sample survey can be
conducted by anyone. - Correct answer b. A census attempts to include the entire population in
the survey whereas a sample survey only studies some of the members of the population.
The AC Nielsen ratings is an example of a:
a. Sample Survey
b. Census
c. Population
d. Experiment - Correct answer a. Sample Survey
A local newspaper in the State of Connecticut conducts a poll on whether the "No Child Left
Behind" law is effective. 1000 people are surveyed. The population of this poll is:
a.
The 1000 people surveyed
b.
The State of Connecticut
c.
Those who favor or disapprove of the "No Child Left Behind" law
d.
Those who are affected by "No Child Left Behind"
Feedback - Correct answer b. The State of Connecticut
The difference between an experiment and an observational study is:
a. An experiment does not change behavior, an observational study does.
b. An experiment deliberately imposes a treatment whereas an observational study measures
the unintentional effects of the treatment as a result of the observation being done.
c. An observational study tries to gather information without interfering; an experiment looks to
actively impose a treatment to see how subjects respond. - Correct answer c. An observational
study tries to gather information without interfering; an experiment looks to actively impose a
treatment to see how subjects respond.
If a statistical study systematically favors certain outcomes, then it is:
a. A voluntary response sample
b. Simple random sample
c. A convenience sample
d. Biased - Correct answer d. Biased
"American Idol" asks viewers to call in to vote on the best candidate. This is an example of (a):
a. convenience sampling
b. voluntary response sample
c. observational study
d. simple random sample - Correct answer b. voluntary response sample
You decide to conduct a sample survey of 10 classmates about the college's alcohol policy. You
decide to survey the first 10 people to walk in the door. This is an example of:
P a g e 2 | 26
, Select one:
a. observational study
b. voluntary response sample
c. convenience sampling
d. simple random sample - Correct answer c. convenience sampling
Women's Daily, a magazine which caters primarily to an over-40 female audience, conducts a
survey in their magazine about which sex (male or female) cheats more. This survey is biased
because:
a. The opinions may be very different from those of the population as a whole.
b. The survey overrepresents some parts of the population and underrepresents others.
c. Only those that feel strongly about the position may respond to the poll.
d. All of the above. - Correct answer d. All of the above.
A sampling method that best avoids bias is (a):
a. A voluntary response sample
b. A convenience sample
c. Simple random sample
d. None of the above - Correct answer c. Simple random sample
To choose a random sample, you could:
a. Put all the names in a hat and draw out a handful
b. Assign each individual a number and use the table of random digits
c. Assign a random number to each individual, sort the numbers in numerical order, and choose
individuals from the top of the sorted list.
d. Any of the above - Correct answer d. Any of the above
You want to conduct an SRS of eight people in the class. The following people are in your class:
Andrew, Bill, Chris, Dave, Ellen, Frank, Greg, Hank, Iggy, Judy, Ken, Larry, Maureen, Nancy,
Otto, Pauline, Ron, Sam, Tom, Uma, Vivian, Warrren, Xavier, Yan, and Zander. How could you
get your sample?
a. Choose the first eight people who walk in the door
b. Choose the eight people that you know would answer the survey
c. Arrange the names alphabetically and choose the first eight people in the list.
d. Assign them numbers from 01 to 25 and use the table of random digits.
e. All of the above are valid for an SRS. - Correct answer d. Assign them numbers from 01 to
25 and use the table of random digits.
Suppose a packaging inspector decides to inspect a sample from a crate of eggs for freshness.
Each crate has 5 trays of 30 eggs each stacked on top of each other. The inspector decides to
examine only the top row. Why is this sample biased?
a. Each egg didn't have an equal chance of being chosen in the sample.
b. The top row may not be representative of the entire crate of eggs for freshness.
c. The inspector was convenience sampling which is typically biased.
d. All of the above. - Correct answer d. All of the above
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