MAKING: FINAL EXAM (LATEST 2026/2027
UPDATE), WITH CORRECT/ACCURATE
ANSWERS
WGU C207 DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-
MAKING FINAL EXAM
WGU C207 – Data-Driven Decision Making
(Latest 2026/2027 aligned | Grade-A level)
Question 1
You survey 100 New Yorkers about their preference for New York-style or Chicago-
style pizza. What is the primary problem with this study?
A. Sampling bias
B. Measurement bias
C. Random error
D. Nonresponse bias
✅ Correct Answer: A. Sampling bias
Rationale:
Sampling bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population being
studied. Surveying only New Yorkers skews the results because they are culturally
more likely to prefer New York-style pizza. This prevents generalization of the findings
to a broader population. A representative sample would need respondents from
multiple geographic regions.
Question 2
,Cleaning, organizing, and maintaining collected raw data is referred to as:
A. Data analytics
B. Data governance
C. Data management
D. Data visualization
✅ Correct Answer: C. Data management
Rationale:
Data management involves the processes required to acquire, store, clean, organize,
and maintain data. Without proper data management, analysis results may be
inaccurate or misleading. This stage ensures data integrity and usability before any
statistical or analytical techniques are applied. It is foundational to effective decision-
making.
Question 3
The science of using mathematical procedures to describe and analyze data is known
as:
A. Analytics
B. Statistics
C. Operations research
D. Informatics
✅ Correct Answer: B. Statistics
Rationale:
Statistics focuses on collecting, summarizing, analyzing, and interpreting data using
mathematical techniques. It provides tools such as measures of central tendency,
variability, and probability. These tools help decision-makers understand patterns and
uncertainty within data. Analytics builds on statistics but includes business context
and modeling.
,Question 4
You want to study air quality in cities with higher proportions of bicycle riders than
drivers. What type of study would this be?
A. Experimental study
B. Controlled experiment
C. Observational study
D. Randomized trial
✅ Correct Answer: C. Observational study
Rationale:
An observational study examines existing conditions without manipulating variables.
In this case, the researcher observes cities as they naturally exist rather than
assigning biking levels. This type of study is useful when controlled experiments are
impractical or unethical. However, it limits the ability to infer causation.
Question 5
You run an experiment to determine how many salespeople to assign to territories
based on performance outcomes. Which type of analytics are you using?
A. Descriptive
B. Diagnostic
C. Predictive
D. Prescriptive
✅ Correct Answer: D. Prescriptive
Rationale:
Prescriptive analytics recommends actions based on analysis and optimization. In this
scenario, the goal is to determine the best assignment strategy to improve outcomes.
Prescriptive analytics often incorporates constraints, simulations, and optimization
models. It goes beyond predicting outcomes to advising what should be done.
, Question 6
You analyze past sales data to determine which territories are most likely to grow
profitably in the future. Which type of analytics is this?
A. Descriptive
B. Predictive
C. Prescriptive
D. Diagnostic
✅ Correct Answer: B. Predictive
Rationale:
Predictive analytics uses historical data to forecast future outcomes. By identifying
trends and patterns in past sales, the analyst estimates which territories will likely
perform well. Techniques often include regression and time-series models. It does not
prescribe actions but informs planning decisions.
Question 7
In the Three-Stage Model, creating a simplified representation of a complex problem
occurs during which stage?
A. Intelligence
B. Design
C. Choice
D. Implementation
✅ Correct Answer: B. Design
Rationale:
The design stage focuses on developing models that represent real-world problems in
simplified form. These models allow decision-makers to analyze alternatives and
outcomes. Simplification is necessary to make complex problems solvable. The
intelligence stage identifies the problem, while the choice stage selects a solution.