1. The purpose of studying statistics is to:
A) gain insight and learn from data.
B) seek patterns underlying variation in data.
C) describe uncertainty in data and conclusions drawn from data.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
2. Which statement(s) is/are TRUE about learning from data?
A) It does not matter where you get your data, as long as there is enough of it.
B) It is important to know the context within which the problem is to be solved.
C) It is possible to reach conclusions without knowing how the data were collected.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
3. Relationships between two variables:
A) are often affected by other lurking variables.
B) do not imply cause-and-effect relationships.
C) can be explored using statistical procedures.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
4. When you begin to work with a data set, you should:
A) examine the context within which the data was collected.
B) aim to understand the context of the problem you are trying to solve.
C) look at graphs and summaries of quantitative data.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
5. Which type of study is the MOST complex to plan and arrange?
A) experiment
B) observational study
C) sample survey
D) None of the answer options is correct.
6. Which type of study is a subset of one of the other types?
A) experiment
B) observational study
C) sample survey
D) None of the answer options is correct.
Page 1
, 7. Drawing conclusions about the greater world based on examining patterns in variation
within a sample of data is called:
A) data analysis.
B) data production.
C) statistical inference.
D) None of the answers options is correct.
8. Describing data using graphs and quantitative summaries is part of:
A) data analysis.
B) data production.
C) statistical inference.
D) None of the answers options is correct.
9. Which four-step process answers the question “What do the data tell me?”
A) Plan your work, solve with graphs and calculations, check accuracy, state
conclusions.
B) Plan your work, state a problem in context, state conclusions, show graphs and
calculations.
C) State a problem in context, plan your work, solve with graphs and calculations, state
conclusions.
D) State a problem in context, solve with graphs and conclusions, check accuracy, state
conclusions.
10. Which statement(s) is/are TRUE about variation?
A) Variation indicates that there is a problem with the data.
B) Variation is common in data sets.
C) There is usually only one source of variation.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
11. Which statment is TRUE?
A) Because variation is everywhere, conclusions can be made with certainty.
B) Statistics gives us a language that is used and understood by some statistically
literate people.
C) Statistics allows us to say how confident we are about a finding based on a clinical
trial.
D) A clinical trial allows us to be certain that a vaccine reduces risk.
Page 2
,12. It is unethical to use randomized studies to expose humans to harmful substances.
Observational studies where we compare those exposed to those not exposed are
sometimes used in such situations. Which statement describes a possibly misleading
finding from such a study?
A) We can safely compare those exposed to those not exposed as long as we have
enough study subjects.
B) We have to be concerned about lurking variables that might lead us to erroneously
conclude that the compound is causing the disease.
C) If we do not carry out a randomized study, we can be sure that lurking variables will
mislead us.
D) On average, an observational study will provide us with the correct conclusion.
13. If we want to study the effect of social media on GPA of college freshman, the BEST
study is:
A) a survey conducted online at the end of freshman year in which we ask students
how much time they spent on sites such as Facebook and their GPA.
B) an observational study that compares the GPA of a group of freshmen who were
observed to have spent at least 3 hours per day on social media to those spending
less than 30 minutes per day.
C) a study that recruited volunteers who agreed to spend at least 2 hours per day on
social media and another group of volunteers that agreed to spend no more than 30
minutes per day on social media.
D) None of the answers options is correct.
Page 3
, Answer Key - Chapter 0 Getting Started
1. D
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. A
9. C
10. B
11. C
12. B
13. D
Page 4
A) gain insight and learn from data.
B) seek patterns underlying variation in data.
C) describe uncertainty in data and conclusions drawn from data.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
2. Which statement(s) is/are TRUE about learning from data?
A) It does not matter where you get your data, as long as there is enough of it.
B) It is important to know the context within which the problem is to be solved.
C) It is possible to reach conclusions without knowing how the data were collected.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
3. Relationships between two variables:
A) are often affected by other lurking variables.
B) do not imply cause-and-effect relationships.
C) can be explored using statistical procedures.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
4. When you begin to work with a data set, you should:
A) examine the context within which the data was collected.
B) aim to understand the context of the problem you are trying to solve.
C) look at graphs and summaries of quantitative data.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
5. Which type of study is the MOST complex to plan and arrange?
A) experiment
B) observational study
C) sample survey
D) None of the answer options is correct.
6. Which type of study is a subset of one of the other types?
A) experiment
B) observational study
C) sample survey
D) None of the answer options is correct.
Page 1
, 7. Drawing conclusions about the greater world based on examining patterns in variation
within a sample of data is called:
A) data analysis.
B) data production.
C) statistical inference.
D) None of the answers options is correct.
8. Describing data using graphs and quantitative summaries is part of:
A) data analysis.
B) data production.
C) statistical inference.
D) None of the answers options is correct.
9. Which four-step process answers the question “What do the data tell me?”
A) Plan your work, solve with graphs and calculations, check accuracy, state
conclusions.
B) Plan your work, state a problem in context, state conclusions, show graphs and
calculations.
C) State a problem in context, plan your work, solve with graphs and calculations, state
conclusions.
D) State a problem in context, solve with graphs and conclusions, check accuracy, state
conclusions.
10. Which statement(s) is/are TRUE about variation?
A) Variation indicates that there is a problem with the data.
B) Variation is common in data sets.
C) There is usually only one source of variation.
D) All of the answer options are correct.
11. Which statment is TRUE?
A) Because variation is everywhere, conclusions can be made with certainty.
B) Statistics gives us a language that is used and understood by some statistically
literate people.
C) Statistics allows us to say how confident we are about a finding based on a clinical
trial.
D) A clinical trial allows us to be certain that a vaccine reduces risk.
Page 2
,12. It is unethical to use randomized studies to expose humans to harmful substances.
Observational studies where we compare those exposed to those not exposed are
sometimes used in such situations. Which statement describes a possibly misleading
finding from such a study?
A) We can safely compare those exposed to those not exposed as long as we have
enough study subjects.
B) We have to be concerned about lurking variables that might lead us to erroneously
conclude that the compound is causing the disease.
C) If we do not carry out a randomized study, we can be sure that lurking variables will
mislead us.
D) On average, an observational study will provide us with the correct conclusion.
13. If we want to study the effect of social media on GPA of college freshman, the BEST
study is:
A) a survey conducted online at the end of freshman year in which we ask students
how much time they spent on sites such as Facebook and their GPA.
B) an observational study that compares the GPA of a group of freshmen who were
observed to have spent at least 3 hours per day on social media to those spending
less than 30 minutes per day.
C) a study that recruited volunteers who agreed to spend at least 2 hours per day on
social media and another group of volunteers that agreed to spend no more than 30
minutes per day on social media.
D) None of the answers options is correct.
Page 3
, Answer Key - Chapter 0 Getting Started
1. D
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. A
9. C
10. B
11. C
12. B
13. D
Page 4
