,MATH 110 Module 1 Exam - Introduction to
Statistics Portage Learning - Latest (26/27)
1. In a study examining the relationship between hours of sleep and academic performance, a
researcher measures sleep duration in hours and GPA on a 4.0 scale. Which of the following correctly
identifies the data types for these two variables?
A) Sleep duration is continuous quantitative; GPA is discrete quantitative.
B) Sleep duration is discrete quantitative; GPA is continuous quantitative.
C) Both sleep duration and GPA are discrete quantitative variables.
D) Both sleep duration and GPA are categorical variables.
Correct Answer: A) Sleep duration is continuous quantitative; GPA is discrete quantitative.
Rationale: Sleep duration (e.g., 6.5 hours) can take any value within a range, making it continuous.
GPA is typically recorded to one or two decimal places (e.g., 3.25) and has distinct, separate values,
making it discrete. Categorical variables classify data into groups, which neither variable does.
2. A researcher collects data on the religious affiliation of survey respondents (Christian, Muslim,
Jewish, Hindu, Other, None). What level of measurement is this variable?
A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
C) Interval
D) Ratio
Correct Answer: A) Nominal
Rationale: Religious affiliation is nominal data because categories are mutually exclusive with no
inherent order or ranking. Ordinal requires ranking, interval requires equal intervals between values,
and ratio requires a true zero point—none of which apply to religious categories.
,3. A public health official wants to estimate the average cholesterol level of all adults in a city. She
randomly selects 500 adults from the city's voter registration list and measures their cholesterol. In
this study, what is the population?
A) The 500 adults selected for the study
B) All adults in the city
C) All adults in the state
D) All individuals with high cholesterol
Correct Answer: B) All adults in the city
Rationale: The population is the entire group of interest, which is all adults in the city. The sample is
the subset actually studied (the 500 adults). The other options misidentify the population by either
narrowing it to the sample or expanding it incorrectly.
4. A factory quality control inspector examines every 25th item coming off an assembly line to check
for defects. This is an example of which sampling method?
A) Simple random sampling
B) Stratified sampling
C) Systematic sampling
D) Cluster sampling
Correct Answer: C) Systematic sampling
Rationale: Systematic sampling involves selecting every kth element from a population or ordered list.
Simple random sampling gives each individual an equal chance. Stratified sampling divides into
subgroups. Cluster sampling selects entire groups. Selecting every 25th item is the hallmark of
systematic sampling.
5. Which of the following represents a parameter rather than a statistic?
A) The average height of 50 randomly selected trees in a forest
B) The proportion of voters in a sample of 1000 who support a candidate
C) The mean salary of all employees in a company
, D) The standard deviation of test scores from a class of 30 students
Correct Answer: C) The mean salary of all employees in a company
Rationale: A parameter describes a characteristic of an entire population (mean salary of ALL
employees), while a statistic describes a sample characteristic. Options A, B, and D all describe sample
statistics because they involve subsets rather than entire populations.
6. A study records the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. What level of measurement is this
variable?
A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
C) Interval
D) Ratio
Correct Answer: C) Interval
Rationale: Temperature in Fahrenheit is interval level because it has equal intervals between values
but lacks a true zero point (0°F does not indicate absence of temperature). Ratio level requires a true
zero where ratios are meaningful (0°F is not half as hot as 2°F).
7. To study the average income of households in a large county, a researcher divides the county into
geographic regions and randomly selects 5 regions. Every household in those 5 regions is then
surveyed. Which sampling method is being used?
A) Simple random sampling
B) Stratified sampling
C) Cluster sampling
D) Systematic sampling
Correct Answer: C) Cluster sampling
Statistics Portage Learning - Latest (26/27)
1. In a study examining the relationship between hours of sleep and academic performance, a
researcher measures sleep duration in hours and GPA on a 4.0 scale. Which of the following correctly
identifies the data types for these two variables?
A) Sleep duration is continuous quantitative; GPA is discrete quantitative.
B) Sleep duration is discrete quantitative; GPA is continuous quantitative.
C) Both sleep duration and GPA are discrete quantitative variables.
D) Both sleep duration and GPA are categorical variables.
Correct Answer: A) Sleep duration is continuous quantitative; GPA is discrete quantitative.
Rationale: Sleep duration (e.g., 6.5 hours) can take any value within a range, making it continuous.
GPA is typically recorded to one or two decimal places (e.g., 3.25) and has distinct, separate values,
making it discrete. Categorical variables classify data into groups, which neither variable does.
2. A researcher collects data on the religious affiliation of survey respondents (Christian, Muslim,
Jewish, Hindu, Other, None). What level of measurement is this variable?
A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
C) Interval
D) Ratio
Correct Answer: A) Nominal
Rationale: Religious affiliation is nominal data because categories are mutually exclusive with no
inherent order or ranking. Ordinal requires ranking, interval requires equal intervals between values,
and ratio requires a true zero point—none of which apply to religious categories.
,3. A public health official wants to estimate the average cholesterol level of all adults in a city. She
randomly selects 500 adults from the city's voter registration list and measures their cholesterol. In
this study, what is the population?
A) The 500 adults selected for the study
B) All adults in the city
C) All adults in the state
D) All individuals with high cholesterol
Correct Answer: B) All adults in the city
Rationale: The population is the entire group of interest, which is all adults in the city. The sample is
the subset actually studied (the 500 adults). The other options misidentify the population by either
narrowing it to the sample or expanding it incorrectly.
4. A factory quality control inspector examines every 25th item coming off an assembly line to check
for defects. This is an example of which sampling method?
A) Simple random sampling
B) Stratified sampling
C) Systematic sampling
D) Cluster sampling
Correct Answer: C) Systematic sampling
Rationale: Systematic sampling involves selecting every kth element from a population or ordered list.
Simple random sampling gives each individual an equal chance. Stratified sampling divides into
subgroups. Cluster sampling selects entire groups. Selecting every 25th item is the hallmark of
systematic sampling.
5. Which of the following represents a parameter rather than a statistic?
A) The average height of 50 randomly selected trees in a forest
B) The proportion of voters in a sample of 1000 who support a candidate
C) The mean salary of all employees in a company
, D) The standard deviation of test scores from a class of 30 students
Correct Answer: C) The mean salary of all employees in a company
Rationale: A parameter describes a characteristic of an entire population (mean salary of ALL
employees), while a statistic describes a sample characteristic. Options A, B, and D all describe sample
statistics because they involve subsets rather than entire populations.
6. A study records the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. What level of measurement is this
variable?
A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
C) Interval
D) Ratio
Correct Answer: C) Interval
Rationale: Temperature in Fahrenheit is interval level because it has equal intervals between values
but lacks a true zero point (0°F does not indicate absence of temperature). Ratio level requires a true
zero where ratios are meaningful (0°F is not half as hot as 2°F).
7. To study the average income of households in a large county, a researcher divides the county into
geographic regions and randomly selects 5 regions. Every household in those 5 regions is then
surveyed. Which sampling method is being used?
A) Simple random sampling
B) Stratified sampling
C) Cluster sampling
D) Systematic sampling
Correct Answer: C) Cluster sampling
