1. Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistical methods and give an example of
how each could help you draw a conclusion in the real world.
Descriptive statistics allow researchers to observe wide-ranging patterns within a sample population, whereas
inferential statistics can be used to predict a population's reaction based on outside factors. I use them every day
when I conduct a survey.
2. You would like to determine whether eating before bed influences your sleep patterns. Describe the
steps you would take to conduct a statistical study on this topic.
I think eating a large meal before bedtime can affect the quality of your sleep. You can do one of two things to
test this hypothesis: Go to sleep without eating for a few nights and compare the results with other nights you
ate food before sleeping. Many generalizations about a group, while inferential statistics uses past data to
predict future outcomes. I believe that this distinction helps conduct surveys, which often rely on random
sampling.
What is your hypothesis on this issue? –
Don't eat before you go to bed; it will disturb your sleeping pattern.
What type of data will you be looking for? –
Did you wake up and fall back asleep during the night, and what time did you wake up. Did you function any
differently during the day?
What methods would you use to gather information? –
I discovered the results of my studies by counting.
How would the results of the data influence decisions you might make about eating and sleeping? –
I will know whether I should eat before going to bed.
3. A company that sells tea and coffee claims that drinking two cups of green tea daily has been shown
to increase mood and well-being. This claim is based on surveys asking customers to rate their mood on a
scale of 1–10 after days they drink/do not drink different types of tea. Based on this information, answer the
following questions: How would we know if this data is valid and reliable? –
Unless you conduct an experiment to test the idea yourself, you won't know whether it's true or not.
What questions would you ask to find out more about the quality of the data? –
I would break the subjects into groups such as age and gender. This would allow for further analysis of the data.
Why is it important to gather and report valid and reliable data? –
By collecting and analyzing information about a topic, you can develop arguments that make your report more
credible.
how each could help you draw a conclusion in the real world.
Descriptive statistics allow researchers to observe wide-ranging patterns within a sample population, whereas
inferential statistics can be used to predict a population's reaction based on outside factors. I use them every day
when I conduct a survey.
2. You would like to determine whether eating before bed influences your sleep patterns. Describe the
steps you would take to conduct a statistical study on this topic.
I think eating a large meal before bedtime can affect the quality of your sleep. You can do one of two things to
test this hypothesis: Go to sleep without eating for a few nights and compare the results with other nights you
ate food before sleeping. Many generalizations about a group, while inferential statistics uses past data to
predict future outcomes. I believe that this distinction helps conduct surveys, which often rely on random
sampling.
What is your hypothesis on this issue? –
Don't eat before you go to bed; it will disturb your sleeping pattern.
What type of data will you be looking for? –
Did you wake up and fall back asleep during the night, and what time did you wake up. Did you function any
differently during the day?
What methods would you use to gather information? –
I discovered the results of my studies by counting.
How would the results of the data influence decisions you might make about eating and sleeping? –
I will know whether I should eat before going to bed.
3. A company that sells tea and coffee claims that drinking two cups of green tea daily has been shown
to increase mood and well-being. This claim is based on surveys asking customers to rate their mood on a
scale of 1–10 after days they drink/do not drink different types of tea. Based on this information, answer the
following questions: How would we know if this data is valid and reliable? –
Unless you conduct an experiment to test the idea yourself, you won't know whether it's true or not.
What questions would you ask to find out more about the quality of the data? –
I would break the subjects into groups such as age and gender. This would allow for further analysis of the data.
Why is it important to gather and report valid and reliable data? –
By collecting and analyzing information about a topic, you can develop arguments that make your report more
credible.
