chapter 2 MINUS 8 Flashcards
- Which of the following is the best definition of the term ‘data’?
a. Any number, such as 1, 3, or 10.
b. Numbers such as 1 and 10 and words such as yes or no.
c. Any number or other piece of information to which meaning has been attached.
d. None of the above.
C
- Which of the following are examples of data?
a. The gender of each member of your statistics class.
b. Your opinion on whether smoking should be banned in all public places (support, oppose, no opinion).
c. The number of deaths in each state in a given year due to accidents.
d. All of the above.
D
- How you determine whether or not to believe a statistic you come across depends on what?
a. How the data were collected.
b. How the data were measured.
c. How the data were summarized.
d. All of the above.
D
- Which of the following is true about statistics?
a. Numbers don’t lie. All statistics have to be believed.
b. Statistics can be made to say whatever you want them to say. No statistic should be believed.
c. Any statistic that is based on data is likely to be correct.
d. All statistics should be carefully scrutinized before determining whether or not they can be believed. Some are correct, and some are not.
D
- Which of the following describes possible origins of news stories?
a. Academic conferences
b. Scholarly journals
c. Government and private agency reports
d. All of the above
D
How do reporters find stories based on statistical studies in their areas of interest?
a. Routinely reading scholarly journals.
b. Attending academic conferences.
c. Watching for government reports.
d. All of the above.
D
- Why is it important to know how the individuals or objects in a study were selected?
a. It is important to know to whom the results can be extended.
b. It is important for determining whether or not there is bias in the results.
c. Both a) and b) are true.
d. It is not important to know how the individuals were selected; only the size of the sample matters.
C
- Suppose a group of students who reported smoking marijuana was found to have lower test scores than a group of students who reported they don’t smoke marijuana. What is the most that can be concluded with regard to the population of all students?
a. Smoking marijuana causes lower test scores.
b. Smoking marijuana may be related to lower test scores.
c. Students who smoke marijuana have lower test scores than students who don’t.
d. None of the above.
B
- A survey of female readers of a certain women’s magazine showed that of those responding, slightly over 90% answered no to the question: ‘If you had it to do over again, would you marry the same man?’ What does this mean to you, as an educated consumer of data?
a. It means that the overwhelming majority of married women regret marrying their spouse.
b. It means you should find out what percentage of the readers responded before you decide anything.
c. It means little or nothing; this survey is too biased to be credible.
d. None of the above.
C
- Which of the following is a well worded survey question for determining a voter’s opinion on a tax increase for education?
a. Would you be willing to agree to a small tax increase that would help the education of our children?
b. Do you agree with a tax increase for education?
c. How do you feel about a tax increase for education (agree, disagree, neutral)?
d. All of the above are well worded questions.
C
- What impact can nonrespondents have on survey results?
a. The nonrespondents will have a negative impact; the results of the survey will be biased toward the opinions of the respondents.
b. The nonrespondents will have no effect because they didn’t respond to the survey.
c. The nonrespondents will have a positive impact; without them, the results of the survey will be more dramatic and more likely to be picked up by the news media.
d. None of the above.
A
- What type of sample would give the most unbiased data?
a. A volunteer response sample.
b. A random sample.
c. A sample with a high number of respondents.
d. None of the above.
B
- Which of the following would give a news reporter the best and most comprehensive foundation for a news story involving a statistical study?
a. A press release gives everything they need because it’s written just for them.
b. Another newspaper article written by a competitor.
c. An article in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, accompanied by a press release.
d. A conference presentation given by the researchers themselves.
???
- Which of the following would not necessarily be considered a good source for a news story?
a. A peer-reviewed journal
b. A government report
c. A press release
d. Another newspaper story
A??
- Which of the following is not an important component of a good news report regarding a statistical study?
a. The source of the research.
b. Who paid for the research.
c. The extent or size of any claimed effects or differences.
d. All of the above are important components.
???
