A researcher wants to estimate the average daily screen time of all students at a university and obtains usable responses from 500 students. Which group is the target population?
01 Foundations of Statistics and Data Collection Online Quiz Questions
Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 01 Foundations of Statistics and Data Collection, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
Which statement correctly distinguishes random sampling from random assignment?
- A
Random sampling establishes causation, while random assignment establishes representativeness.
- B
Both procedures serve exactly the same purpose.
- C
Random sampling supports generalization, while random assignment supports causal comparisons.
- D
Neither procedure affects the conclusions of a study.
A researcher records each participant's year of birth. Which measurement scale best describes this variable?
- A
Nominal
- B
Ordinal
- C
Ratio
- D
Interval
Which two methods are probability-sampling methods as defined in the material? Select all correct choices.
- A
Simple random sampling
- B
Convenience sampling
- C
Systematic sampling
- D
Voluntary-response sampling
Which practices or principles reflect the ethical responsibilities described in the Materials? Select all correct choices.
- A
Respect for persons
- B
Beneficence
- C
Increasing the sample size solely to reduce sampling error
- D
Justice
- E
Protecting privacy and confidentiality
True or false: If an observational study finds that night-shift workers have higher hypertension rates, the study by itself establishes that night-shift work causes hypertension.
- A
True
- B
False
True or false: Increasing the sample size will necessarily eliminate systematic bias caused by an unrepresentative sampling frame.
- A
True
- B
False
What is the statistical term for the list or procedure used to identify units eligible for selection?
What term describes a variable related to both an explanatory variable and an outcome that can create a misleading association?
A study that collects information from every member of the target population uses a . When a researcher instead studies a sample, the resulting natural variation among samples is called .
In an observational study, investigators first identify people with and without a disease and examine their previous exposures; this is a . Investigators who form groups according to an exposure and follow them to compare later outcomes are conducting a .
A school wants to determine whether an online tutoring program improves algebra performance. Propose a study design and explain how the design would support or limit a causal conclusion. Include the treatment assignment, outcome measurement, at least one bias-control procedure, and one ethical or generalization issue.
A university emails a randomly selected group about a health survey, but students with very demanding schedules are much less likely to respond, and schedule demands are related to the health outcome. Which problem is most directly described?
- A
Measurement bias caused by a faulty instrument
- B
Nonresponse bias caused by selected units who do not participate
- C
Confounding caused by a variable related to both exposure and outcome
- D
Sampling error caused by using any sample
A researcher wants to estimate the average daily screen time of all students at a university and obtains usable responses from 500 students. What is the target population?
- A
The 500 students who provide usable responses
- B
All students at the university
- C
The average screen time calculated from respondents
- D
Every student who owns a smartphone
A survey records political affiliation by coding Party A as 1, Party B as 2, and Party C as 3. How should this variable be classified?
- A
Quantitative and continuous
- B
Quantitative and discrete
- C
Categorical
- D
Ratio-scale quantitative
An observational study finds that people carrying umbrellas are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents. Which variable is the most plausible confounder?
- A
The number of umbrellas sold
- B
The brand of umbrella used
- C
The color of the umbrella
- D
Rainfall conditions
True or false: Increasing a sample size necessarily eliminates systematic selection bias.
- A
True
- B
False
What is the statistical term for converting an abstract concept such as “academic achievement” into a specific observable measurement rule?
Researchers compare people who developed a disease with similar people who did not develop it, then examine their previous exposures. Which design is being used?
- A
A cohort study
- B
A case-control study
- C
A cross-sectional census
- D
A randomized experiment
A survey about health habits uses a leading question that encourages participants to underreport behaviors viewed as unhealthy. Responses are therefore systematically different from the quantities the study intends to measure. What type of bias is most directly illustrated?