Unit 1 - Introduction to Statistical Investigations Test Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update
2025-2026
statistics - Answers A number computed from the sample.
The science of producing useful data to address a research question, analyzing the resulting data, and
drawing appropriate conclusions from the data.
six-step statistical investigation method - Answers 1. ask a research question
2. design a study and collect data
3. explore the data
4. draw inferences
5. formulate conclusions
6. look back and ahead
observational units - Answers Individual entities on which data are recorded.
quantitative variables - Answers A variable taking numerical values on which ordinary arithmetic
operations make sense; you can add, subtract, etc. with the values; height, weight, distance, time, etc.
categorical variables - Answers A variable whose outcomes are category designations; labels for which
arithmetic does not make sense.
distribution - Answers Describes the pattern of outcomes of a variable
variability - Answers The spread in observations for a quantitative variable. A fundamental property in
studying statistics.
standard deviation - Answers A measure of variability of a quantitative variable; roughly the
average/mean distance between a data value in the distribution and the mean of the distribution; the
smallest it can be is 0.
shape - Answers A characteristic of the distribution of a quantitative variable.
probability - Answers The long-run proportion of times the event would occur if the random process
were repeated indefinitely (under identical conditions).
simulation - Answers Artificially re-creating a random process, can be used to estimate a probability;
using a larger # of repetitions is a better
data - Answers The values measured or categories recorded on individual observational units.
2025-2026
statistics - Answers A number computed from the sample.
The science of producing useful data to address a research question, analyzing the resulting data, and
drawing appropriate conclusions from the data.
six-step statistical investigation method - Answers 1. ask a research question
2. design a study and collect data
3. explore the data
4. draw inferences
5. formulate conclusions
6. look back and ahead
observational units - Answers Individual entities on which data are recorded.
quantitative variables - Answers A variable taking numerical values on which ordinary arithmetic
operations make sense; you can add, subtract, etc. with the values; height, weight, distance, time, etc.
categorical variables - Answers A variable whose outcomes are category designations; labels for which
arithmetic does not make sense.
distribution - Answers Describes the pattern of outcomes of a variable
variability - Answers The spread in observations for a quantitative variable. A fundamental property in
studying statistics.
standard deviation - Answers A measure of variability of a quantitative variable; roughly the
average/mean distance between a data value in the distribution and the mean of the distribution; the
smallest it can be is 0.
shape - Answers A characteristic of the distribution of a quantitative variable.
probability - Answers The long-run proportion of times the event would occur if the random process
were repeated indefinitely (under identical conditions).
simulation - Answers Artificially re-creating a random process, can be used to estimate a probability;
using a larger # of repetitions is a better
data - Answers The values measured or categories recorded on individual observational units.
