Part 1

Question 1

What is Statistics?

Answer 1

Statistics is the science of collecting, organising, summarising and analysing data to answer questions or provide conclusions.

Question 2

What are the TWO major concepts of Statistics?

Answer 2

1) Variation (changes/differences in an item)

2) Data (observations gathered to draw conclusions)

Question 3

What are the TWO main types of Statistics?

Answer 3

1) Descriptive statistics

2) Inferential statistics

Question 4

Define Descriptive Statistics…

Answer 4

The statistical method used to describe data that has been collected.

Question 5

Define Inferential Statistics…

Answer 5

The statistical method used to find the characteristics of a population based on a sample.

Question 6

What are some key features / keywords that can be found in Descriptive Statistics?

Answer 6

Mean / median / mode
Range / variance / standard deviation
Charts / graphs

Question 7

What are some terms that can be found in Inferential Statistics?

Answer 7

Confidence interval

Margin of error

Question 8

Define Experimental Unit…

Answer 8

An object about which we collect data. / The individuals or items on which we perform the experiment.

Question 9

Define Population…

Answer 9

A set of all units we are interested in studying,

Question 10

Define Parameter…

Answer 10

A specific characteristic of a population.

Question 11

What is a census?

Answer 11

When every experimental unit of a population is examined, it is called a census.

Question 12

Define Sample…

Answer 12

A subset of units of a population.

Question 13

Define Statistic…

Answer 13

A specific characteristic of a sample.

Question 14

Define Variable…

Answer 14

A characteristic that varies from one objects to another.

Question 15

How can data be classified according to the source?

Answer 15

1) Primary Data

2) Secondary Data

Question 16

Define Primary Data…

Answer 16

Data collected by the investigator conducting the research.

Question 17

Give THREE benefits of having a primary data source to a study.

Answer 17

1) Data is original
2) Data is current and realistic
3) Data is reliable

Question 18

Give THREE disadvantages of having a primary data source in a study.

Answer 18

1) Data collection requires time and effort
2) Data collection cost is high
3) Trained people are needed to gather data in some cases.

Question 19

Define Secondary Data…

Answer 19

Data collected by someone else for some other reason/research. / The person performing the data analysis is not the data collecter.

Question 20

Give THREE advantages of using a secondary data source in a research.

Answer 20

1) Cheaper and faster access to data
2) Saves time and money
3) The direction of the research can be determined easily

Question 21

Give TWO disadvantages of having a secondary data source in a study.

Answer 21

1) Data may be obsolete

2) Data may not be reliable

Question 22

Name SIX methods of collecting data.

Answer 22

1) Questionnaires
2) Interviews
3) Designed experiments
4) Registration
5) Survey
6) Published sources

Question 23

What are the TWO main types of Data?

Answer 23

1) Quantitative Data

2) Qualitative Data

Question 24

Define Quantitative Variables…

Answer 24

A quantitative variable describes a quantity or measurement where the magnitude is meaningful.

Question 25

How are Quantitative Variables further classified?

Answer 25

1) Discrete Variables

2) Continuous Variables

Question 26

Define Discrete Variables…

Answer 26

Variables whose possible values can be listed even if the list continues indefinitely.
(involves a count of something)

Question 27

Define Continuous Variables…

Answer 27

Variables which can take any value between its minimum and maximum value.
(a measurement)

Question 28

Give another name for Qualitative Variables

Answer 28

Categorical variables

Question 29

Give another name for Qualitative Variables

Answer 29

Numerical variables

Question 30

Name the FOUR Levels of Measurement in order

Answer 30

1) Nominal
2) Ordinal
3) Interval
4) Ratio

Question 31

Which type of data can be measured on a Nominal or Ordinal scale?

Answer 31

Qualitative data/ Categorical data

Question 32

Which type of data can be measured on an Interval or Ratio scale?

Answer 32

Quantitative data/ Numerical data

Question 33

Give TWO characteristics of the Nominal level of measurement.

Answer 33

1) Data consists of names/ labels/ categories only.

2) The data cannot be ranked or ordered.

Question 34

Give THREE characteristics of the Ordinal level of measurement.

Answer 34

1) The data can be arranged in some order.
2) The precise difference between measurements cannot be determined.
3) The data cannot be used for computations.

Question 35

Give THREE characteristics of the Interval level of measurement.

Answer 35

1) The intervals of the data is meaningful.
2) The ratios are not meaningful.
3) Data has an arbitrary zero point.

Question 36

Give TWO characteristics of the Ratio level of measurement.

Answer 36

1) Both the intervals and the ratios of the data are meaningful.
2) Data has an absolute zero point.

Question 37

Define Qualitative variables

Answer 37

Qualitative variables describe a quality or class where the magnitude of the measurement is not meaningful. (can be numerical/ non-numerical)