STATISTICAL DATA LITERACY EXAM WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS #14
Representative sample - correct answer an unbiased sample, is a subset of the
population that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger group
Non-representative sample - correct answer a biased sample, fails to accurately reflect
the population
Volunteer sample - correct answer individuals have selected themselves to be included
Voluntary response bias - correct answer occurs when sample members are self-
selected volunteers, as in voluntary samples
Likely only people with strong opinions will volunteer, leading to misrepresentation of
data
Convenience sample - correct answer individuals are selected based on the
convenience of the researcher, often because they happen to be at the right time and
place
May create bias because may favor people based on time and location
Systematic sampling - correct answer every nth item in the target population is selected
May create bias if there are underlying patterns in directory
Nonresponse bias - correct answer bias introduced to a sample when a large fraction of
those sampled fails to respond
There is a danger that those who do respond are different from those who don't, with
respect to the variable of interest
Sampling frame - correct answer list of potential individuals to be sampled
Sampling frame error - correct answer a mismatch that may not be representative of
your entire desired population
Self-interest study - correct answer where the researchers have a vested interest in the
outcome
Response bias - correct answer occurs when the responder gives inaccurate responses
for any reason, such as misunderstanding the question or feeling pressured to provide a
certain answer
Perceived lack of anonymity - correct answer a type of response bias which occurs
when the responder fears giving an honest answer might negatively affect them, leading
to dishonest or misleading responses
, Loaded or leading question - correct answer occurs when the question wording
influences the responses, leading to biased results.
Ways to distort a graph - correct answer -manipulation of the y axis to distort differences
-inconsistent intervals on the x axis
-use of images that scale in more than one dimensions than appropriate for the data
Statistically significant - correct answer t is unlikely that the result we measured differed
from the expected result solely because of random chance
Two primary factors impact statistical significance - correct answer the first is the
sample size. The larger the sample size, the less likely it is for random chance to
produce results that are notably different from their true value
The second is the extremeness of the observed result. If our result is very different than
we would expect, it has a greater likelihood of being statistically significant
Misrepresenting data - correct answer presenting data in a way which is likely to
mislead those viewing it or cause them to draw incorrect conclusions.
Falsifying data - correct answer deliberately creating a data set that is inconsistent with
or unsupported by the results of the study, or that is achieved through improper
research practices.
Association - correct answer two variables are related in some way, but this relationship
may not be direct, and there may be no cause-and-effect relationship between them.
Often found in observational studies
Causal relationship - correct answer one variable directly causes an effect in the other.
Confounding variable - correct answer a variable that is not accounted for, but that may
influence the relationship being studied because it is associated with both the
explanatory and response variable
Experimental studies - correct answer more likely to reveal a casual relationship
between variables
Linear - correct answer the data points form a clear pattern which closely resembles a
straight line.
Nonlinear - correct answer the data points form a clear pattern, but that pattern is
something other than a line (such as a curve).
No pattern (no correlation - correct answer the data points appear to be scattered
randomly throughout the graph with no discernible pattern.
ANSWERS #14
Representative sample - correct answer an unbiased sample, is a subset of the
population that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger group
Non-representative sample - correct answer a biased sample, fails to accurately reflect
the population
Volunteer sample - correct answer individuals have selected themselves to be included
Voluntary response bias - correct answer occurs when sample members are self-
selected volunteers, as in voluntary samples
Likely only people with strong opinions will volunteer, leading to misrepresentation of
data
Convenience sample - correct answer individuals are selected based on the
convenience of the researcher, often because they happen to be at the right time and
place
May create bias because may favor people based on time and location
Systematic sampling - correct answer every nth item in the target population is selected
May create bias if there are underlying patterns in directory
Nonresponse bias - correct answer bias introduced to a sample when a large fraction of
those sampled fails to respond
There is a danger that those who do respond are different from those who don't, with
respect to the variable of interest
Sampling frame - correct answer list of potential individuals to be sampled
Sampling frame error - correct answer a mismatch that may not be representative of
your entire desired population
Self-interest study - correct answer where the researchers have a vested interest in the
outcome
Response bias - correct answer occurs when the responder gives inaccurate responses
for any reason, such as misunderstanding the question or feeling pressured to provide a
certain answer
Perceived lack of anonymity - correct answer a type of response bias which occurs
when the responder fears giving an honest answer might negatively affect them, leading
to dishonest or misleading responses
, Loaded or leading question - correct answer occurs when the question wording
influences the responses, leading to biased results.
Ways to distort a graph - correct answer -manipulation of the y axis to distort differences
-inconsistent intervals on the x axis
-use of images that scale in more than one dimensions than appropriate for the data
Statistically significant - correct answer t is unlikely that the result we measured differed
from the expected result solely because of random chance
Two primary factors impact statistical significance - correct answer the first is the
sample size. The larger the sample size, the less likely it is for random chance to
produce results that are notably different from their true value
The second is the extremeness of the observed result. If our result is very different than
we would expect, it has a greater likelihood of being statistically significant
Misrepresenting data - correct answer presenting data in a way which is likely to
mislead those viewing it or cause them to draw incorrect conclusions.
Falsifying data - correct answer deliberately creating a data set that is inconsistent with
or unsupported by the results of the study, or that is achieved through improper
research practices.
Association - correct answer two variables are related in some way, but this relationship
may not be direct, and there may be no cause-and-effect relationship between them.
Often found in observational studies
Causal relationship - correct answer one variable directly causes an effect in the other.
Confounding variable - correct answer a variable that is not accounted for, but that may
influence the relationship being studied because it is associated with both the
explanatory and response variable
Experimental studies - correct answer more likely to reveal a casual relationship
between variables
Linear - correct answer the data points form a clear pattern which closely resembles a
straight line.
Nonlinear - correct answer the data points form a clear pattern, but that pattern is
something other than a line (such as a curve).
No pattern (no correlation - correct answer the data points appear to be scattered
randomly throughout the graph with no discernible pattern.
