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1 Interactive Assignment
1.1.RA-1
Are the following statements true or false? Justify your answers.
Complete parts (a) through (c) below.
(a) In statistics, results are always reported with 100% certainty.
Choose the correct answer below.
False. In statistics, results are not reported with 100% certainty.
Because statistical studies draw on samples, and because there is
variation within groups, results cannot be reported with 100%
certainty.
(b) Statistical studies are not concerned with understanding the
sources of variability in data, only with describing the variability in the
data. Choose the correct answer below.
False. Statistical studies are concerned with both describing the
variability in the data and understanding the sources of variability in
data. Understanding the sources allows researchers to control it and
reach better conclusions.
(c) Suppose three different individuals conduct the same statistical
study, such as estimating the average commute time of students at a
college. It is possible that all three studies end up with different
results. Choose the correct answer below.
True. Statistical studies typically look at samples rather than entire
populations. Since each study is likely to draw different samples, it is
quite possible that each study ends up with different results, due to
variability in the data.
1.1.4
Descriptive statistics consists of organizing and summarizing
information collected, while inferential statistics uses methods that
generalize results obtained from a sample to the population and
measure the reliability of the results.
1.1.5
A(n) statistic is a numerical summary of a sample.
A(n) parameter is a numerical summary of a population.
1.1.59 Explain what is meant when it is said that "data vary". How
does the variability affect the results of statistical analysis?
Saying "data vary" means that the values of the variable change from
individual to individual. In addition, certain variables can change over
time for certain individuals. Because data vary, two different statistical
analysis of the same variable can lead to different results
Section 1.2 Interactive Assignment
1.2.9 Determine whether the study depicts an observational study or
an experiment.
Fifty patients on dialysis are divided into two groups. One group
receives an experimental drug to fight cancer comma the other a
placebo. After two years, kidney functionality is measured.
Does the description correspond to an observational study or an
experiment?
The study is an experiment because the researchers control one
variable to determine the effect on the response variable.
1.2.3
What is meant by confounding?
Confounding in a study occurs when the effects of two or more
explanatory variables are not separated. Therefore, any relation that
may exist between an explanatory variable and the response variable
may be due to some other variable or variables not accounted for in
the study.
What is a lurking variable?
A lurking variable is an explanatory variable that was not considered in
a study, but that affects the value of the response variable in the
study. In addition, lurking variables are typically related to explanatory
variables in the study.
1.2.5
What is a cross-sectional study?
Cross-sectional studies are observational studies that collect
information about individuals at a specific point in time or over a very
short period of time.
What is a case-control study?
Case-control studies are observational studies that are retrospective,
meaning that they require individuals to look back in time or require
the researcher to look at existing records.
Which is the superior observational study? Why?
Neither study is always the superior to the other. Both have
advantages and disadvantages that depend on the situation.
1.2.8
What does it mean when an observational study is retrospective?
A retrospective study requires that individuals look back in time or
require the researcher to look at existing records.
What does it mean when an observational study is prospective?
A prospective study collects the data over time.
Party 1 Party 2
Bolden Nolan Cooper Ochs
Carter Pawlak Engler Rice
Haydra Tate Keating Thomas
Lukens Wright May Weber
1.4.4
A(n) cluster sample is obtained by dividing the population into groups
and selecting all individuals from within a random sample of the
groups.
1.4.5
A(n) stratified sample is obtained by dividing the population into
homogeneous groups and randomly selecting individuals from each
group.
1.4.21
To determine her heart rate, Miranda divides up her day into three
parts: morning, afternoon, and evening. She then measures her
heart rate at 3 randomly selected times during each part of the day.
What type of sampling is used?
Stratified
1.5.17 Surveys tend to suffer from low response rates. Based on past
experience, a researcher determines that the typical response rate for
an e-mail survey is 30%. She wishes to obtain a sample of 150
respondents, so she e-mails the survey to 1000 randomly selected e-
mail addresses. Assuming the response rate for her survey is 30%, will
the respondents form an unbiased sample? Explain.
Is the sample unbiased?
No. The survey still suffers from undercoverage (sampling bias),
nonresponse bias, and potentially response bias.
1.5.21 Suppose you are reading an article online when the following
text appeared in a popup window: ''Would you be interested in
participating in a short health dash related survey question mark If
you qualify and complete this survey comma you will receive $ 2.00 .
Your participation will make a difference.'' What tactic is being used to
increase the response rate for this survey?
The company is using a reward system in the form of the $2.00
payment and an incentive by telling the readers that his or her input
will make a difference.
1.5.35
1. Consider a survey conducted of computer gamers in a certain
country. One aspect of the survey is to determine the
the time of gaming per day
in a particular country. Complete parts (a) through (f).
(a) What is the population of interest for this portion of the survey?
All gamers of the country
(b) What is the variable of interest for this portion of the survey?
Time of gaming per day
(c) Is the variable qualitative or quantitative?
Quantitative
(d) What is the level of measurement for the variable?
Ratio
(e) Is a census feasible in this situation?
No
(f) Is a sample feasible in this situation?
Yes
1.3.5
2. As part of a college literature course, students must select three
classic works of literature from the provided list and complete critical
book reviews for each selected work. Write a short description of the
processes that can be used to generate a simple random sample of
three books. Obtain a simple random sample of size 3 from this list.
Which of the following would produce a simple random sample? Select
all that apply.
Number the books from 1 to 9 and use a random number table to
produce
List each book on a separate piece of paper, place them all in a hat,
and pick
Use the portion of the random number table provided below to obtain
a simple random sample of size 3 from this list. If you start on the left
and take the first three numbers between 1 and 9, what three books
would be selected from the numbered list?
27227 87017 89694
The Jungle, Death of a Salesman, The Scarlet Letter
1.1.39
3. A polling organization contacts 2259 undergraduates who attend
a college and live outside the United States and asks whether or not
they had taken a course in conversational English during their studies.
What is the population in the study?
Undergraduates who attend a college and live outside the United
States
What is the sample in the study?
The 2259 undergraduates who attend a college and live outside the
United States
1.4.19
4. A television station asks its viewers to call in their opinion
regarding the desirability of programs in high definition TV.
What type of sampling is used?
Convenience
1.4.27
5. The human resource department at a certain company wants to
conduct a survey regarding worker benefits. The department has an
alphabetical list of all 6425 employees at the company and wants to
conduct a systematic sample of size 60.
(a) What is k?
k=107
(b) Determine the individuals who will be administered the survey.
Randomly select a number from 1 to k. Suppose that we randomly
select 13. Starting with the first individual selected, the individuals in
the survey will be 13, 120, 227…, 6326.
1.6.6
6. Determine whether the following statement is true or false.
Generally, the goal of an experiment is to determine the effect that the
treatment will have on the response variable.
True
1.4.11
7. To estimate the percentage of defects in a recent manufacturing
batch, a quality control manager at Microsoft selects every 14th
software CD that comes off the assembly line starting with the eighth
until she obtains a sample of 110 software CDs.
Systematic
1.6.18
8. A physician wanted to compare two types of headache relief.
One type is medication and the other is using pressure points. It is a
common belief that medication relieves pain faster.
This belief is tested by having 10 migraine sufferers compare both
types of pain relief and recording their observations on a standardized
scale of response. A coin flip was used to determine which type of
headache relief each individual would try first. Results indicated that
there was no difference in the two types of pain relief.
What type of experimental design is this?
Matched pair
What is the response variable in this experiment?
The recorded observations
What is the treatment?
The types of pain relief
What are the experimental units?
The migraine sufferers
Why is a coin used to decide the headache relief each individual would
try first?
To eliminate bias as to which pain relief was used first
1.2.18
9. Researchers wanted to determine if there was an association
between daily coffee consumption and the occurrence of skin cancer.
The researchers looked at 93,532 women and asked them to report
their coffee-drinking habits. The researchers also determined which of
the women had nonmelanoma skin cancer. After their analysis, the
researchers concluded that consumption of six or more cups of
caffeinated coffee per day was associated with a reduction in
nonmelanoma skin cancer. Complete parts (a) through (c).
(a) What type of observational study was this? Explain.
This was a cross-sectional study because all information about the
individuals was collected at a specific point in time.
(b) What is the response variable in the study? What is the
explanatory variable?
What is the response variable in the study?
The response variable is whether the woman has nonmelanoma skin
cancer or not.
What is the explanatory variable?
The explanatory variable is consumption of caffeinated coffee.
(c) In their report, the researchers stated that "After adjusting for
various demographic and lifestyle variables, daily consumption of six
or more cups was associated with a 30% reduced prevalence of
nonmelanoma skin cancer." Why was it important to adjust for these
variables?
The researchers may be concerned with confounding that occurs when
the effects of two or more explanatory variables are not separated or
when there are some explanatory variables that were not considered
in a study, but that affect the value of the response variable.
1.1.45
10. The data on the right relate to characteristics of high-definition
televisions A through E.
Setup Size (in) Screen Type Number of Channels Available
A 46 Plasma 299
B 56 Projection 116
C 48 Projection 423
D 43 Projection 270
E 57 Plasma 289
Identify the individuals, variables, and data corresponding to the
variables. Determine whether each variable is qualitative, continuous,
or discrete.
1.3.13
11. Suppose you are the president of the student government. You
wish to conduct a survey to determine the student body's opinion
regarding student services. The administration provides you with a list
of the names and phone numbers of the 487 registered students.
(a) Discuss a procedure you could follow to obtain a simple random
sample of 5 students.
(b) Obtain this sample.
96783 75881
08283 05149
72771 13357
78083 80385
20245 41638
35004 29884
44991 98786
46812 83019
87110 91582
93699 65211
(a) Which of the following procedures could you follow to obtain a
simple random sample of 5 students? Select all that apply.
List each name on a separate piece of paper; place them all in a hat,
and pick five.
Number the names from 1 to 487 and use a random number table to
produce 5 different three-digit numbers corresponding to the names
selected.
(b) Obtain this sample using the portion of the random number table
provided in the problem statement. Start with the first column of the
first row and work down each column.
82,202,350,449,468
1.2.15
12. Determine whether the study depicts an observational study or
an experiment.
Fifty patients on aspirin are divided into two groups. One group is
treated with a new anti-ulcer drug. The other is not. After one month,
both groups are questioned about their stomach pain.
Is the study an observational study or an experiment?
The study is an experiment because the researchers control one
variable to determine the effect on the response variable.
1.5.11
13. An antigun advocate wants to estimate the percentage of people
who favor stricter gun laws.
He conducts a nationwide survey of 1 comma 203 randomly selected
adults 18 years old and older. The interviewer asks the respondents,
"Do you favor harsher penalties for individuals who sell guns
illegally?" This survey has bias.
(a) What is the type of bias?
Response bias
(b) What is a possible remedy?
Reword the question.
1.1.29
14. Determine whether the quantitative variable is discrete or
continuous.
Amount of snowfall in a year
Is the variable discrete or continuous?
The variable is continuous because it is not countable.
1.1.1
15. Define statistics.
Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, summarizing, and
analyzing information to draw a conclusion and answer questions. In
addition, statistics is about providing a measure of confidence in any
conclusions.