CNSL 503 EXAM 160 QUESTIONS & CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST 2025
True of False: Statistics is used to prove claims.
False
What are Variables?
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?
This would be qualitative data and the SCALE would be nominal! Ex: blood type,
college majors, room numbers
True or false: it is generally feasible to collect data from every member of a
population
FALSE! unless the target of a particular research study is comprised of a small
population, it is usually not practical or sensible to attempt to reach every
member within a population
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
,-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)
When a variable can contain negative values, what type of scale is most
appropriate? Why?
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?
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 individuals
TRUE!
Provide an example of quantitative variable and an example of a qualitative
variable
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?
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
,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 generalizations about populations based on sample data.
Answer: descriptive; inferential Explanation: descriptive statistics involve
calcluations like mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, and range.
Inferential statistics involve calculations such as those use for hypothesis testing
(z-scorem, t-test, ANOVA, correctional analyses).
Which of the following is NOT involved in the process of sampling?
- identify goals
- collect data
- make conclusions
- obtain resources
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
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
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?
Ex: weight, temperature, time, length, and speed.
continuous variables are variables that can be broken down into smaller,
fractional components (decimals, fractions, etc). It does NOT have to be a whole
number
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
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 conducted
- it is only practical to reach all members of small populations
- only one method is used to gather samples from populations
it is only practical to reach all members of small populations
A team of clinical researchers is studying stress levels of a sample of 15
paramedics undergoing a new training program at a local hospital. The
researchers stage two hypothetical medical emergencies for the paramedics: one
low stakes and one high stakes. Then they measure their cortisol levels. The
ANSWERS LATEST 2025
True of False: Statistics is used to prove claims.
False
What are Variables?
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?
This would be qualitative data and the SCALE would be nominal! Ex: blood type,
college majors, room numbers
True or false: it is generally feasible to collect data from every member of a
population
FALSE! unless the target of a particular research study is comprised of a small
population, it is usually not practical or sensible to attempt to reach every
member within a population
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
,-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)
When a variable can contain negative values, what type of scale is most
appropriate? Why?
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?
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 individuals
TRUE!
Provide an example of quantitative variable and an example of a qualitative
variable
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?
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
,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 generalizations about populations based on sample data.
Answer: descriptive; inferential Explanation: descriptive statistics involve
calcluations like mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, and range.
Inferential statistics involve calculations such as those use for hypothesis testing
(z-scorem, t-test, ANOVA, correctional analyses).
Which of the following is NOT involved in the process of sampling?
- identify goals
- collect data
- make conclusions
- obtain resources
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
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
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?
Ex: weight, temperature, time, length, and speed.
continuous variables are variables that can be broken down into smaller,
fractional components (decimals, fractions, etc). It does NOT have to be a whole
number
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
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 conducted
- it is only practical to reach all members of small populations
- only one method is used to gather samples from populations
it is only practical to reach all members of small populations
A team of clinical researchers is studying stress levels of a sample of 15
paramedics undergoing a new training program at a local hospital. The
researchers stage two hypothetical medical emergencies for the paramedics: one
low stakes and one high stakes. Then they measure their cortisol levels. The
