Test Bank for Statistics For People Who
Think They Hate Statistics 7th Edition
Salkind Frey / All Chapters 1-19 / Full
Complete
Chapter 1: Statistics or Sadistics? It's Up to You
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of descriptive statistics?
A. To predict future outcomes based on sample data
B. To organize, summarize, and describe the characteristics of a dataset
C. To prove research hypotheses definitively
D. To determine the probability of a Type I error
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Descriptive statistics focus on summarizing and presenting data in meaningful
ways (e.g., graphs, tables, averages). They describe what is happening in a dataset but do not
make inferences beyond the data at hand. Inferential statistics are used for prediction and
hypothesis testing .
2. A researcher collects data from every single member of a defined group of interest. This
complete collection is called a:
A. Sample
B. Population
C. Parameter
D. Statistic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A population includes the entire group being studied (all individuals or items of
interest). A sample is a subset of the population. A parameter is a value describing a population,
while a statistic describes a sample .
,3. Which of the following statements about the history of statistics is TRUE?
A. Most basic statistical procedures were developed specifically for the social sciences.
B. Statistical methods were first developed in other fields and later applied to human behavior.
C. Statistics as a discipline is less than 50 years old.
D. The term "statistics" originally referred only to demographic data.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Most basic statistical procedures were first developed and used in other fields
(e.g., astronomy, agriculture) and were applied to the study of human behavior much later .
4. Statistics describes a set of __________ that is used for describing, organizing, and
interpreting information.
A. Statements
B. Rules and exceptions
C. Tools and techniques
D. Numbers and letters
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Statistics is defined as a set of tools and techniques used for describing,
organizing, and interpreting information .
5. Which of the following is NOT a reason students commonly feel anxiety about statistics?
A. Fear of mathematics
B. Belief that statistics is irrelevant to their field
C. Previous negative experiences with quantitative courses
D. Statistics requires advanced calculus for basic procedures
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Basic statistical procedures require only arithmetic and algebra—not advanced
calculus. Statistics anxiety typically stems from math fear, perceived irrelevance, and prior
negative experiences .
,6. (SATA) Which of the following are true statements about the relationship between
descriptive and inferential statistics?
A. Descriptive statistics summarize sample data.
B. Inferential statistics use sample data to make estimates about populations.
C. Descriptive statistics are always sufficient for drawing conclusions about populations.
D. Inferential statistics incorporate probability to account for sampling error.
Correct Answers: A, B, D
Rationale: Descriptive statistics summarize and organize data from a sample or population.
Inferential statistics use sample data to infer characteristics of populations, incorporating
probability and acknowledging sampling error. Descriptive statistics alone cannot generalize to a
population .
7. A "statistic" is to a "parameter" as a:
A. Population is to a sample
B. Sample is to a population
C. Mean is to a median
D. Descriptive is to inferential
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A statistic describes a sample; a parameter describes a population. The
relationship is sample → population, just as statistic → parameter .
Chapter 2: Computing and Understanding Averages: Means to an End
8. Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values (outliers)?
A. Median
B. Mode
C. Mean
D. Range
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The mean is sensitive to outliers because it uses every value in its calculation. A
single extreme score can substantially shift the mean. The median and mode are more resistant
to outliers .
, 9. What is the formula for computing the mean?
A. ∑X + n
B. ∑X / n
C. ∑X × n
D. n / ∑X
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The mean is computed by summing all scores (∑X) and dividing by the number of
scores (n) .
10. A researcher wants to know the most frequently occurring diagnosis in a psychiatric clinic.
Which measure of central tendency should be used?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. Range
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The mode is the most frequently occurring score and is appropriate for
categorical/nominal data such as diagnosis categories. The mean and median require
quantitative data .
11. For a dataset with extreme outliers, which measure of central tendency is most
appropriate?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. Standard deviation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The median represents the central position in an ordered dataset and is resistant
to extreme scores. When data are skewed or have outliers, the median is the preferred measure
.
Think They Hate Statistics 7th Edition
Salkind Frey / All Chapters 1-19 / Full
Complete
Chapter 1: Statistics or Sadistics? It's Up to You
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of descriptive statistics?
A. To predict future outcomes based on sample data
B. To organize, summarize, and describe the characteristics of a dataset
C. To prove research hypotheses definitively
D. To determine the probability of a Type I error
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Descriptive statistics focus on summarizing and presenting data in meaningful
ways (e.g., graphs, tables, averages). They describe what is happening in a dataset but do not
make inferences beyond the data at hand. Inferential statistics are used for prediction and
hypothesis testing .
2. A researcher collects data from every single member of a defined group of interest. This
complete collection is called a:
A. Sample
B. Population
C. Parameter
D. Statistic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A population includes the entire group being studied (all individuals or items of
interest). A sample is a subset of the population. A parameter is a value describing a population,
while a statistic describes a sample .
,3. Which of the following statements about the history of statistics is TRUE?
A. Most basic statistical procedures were developed specifically for the social sciences.
B. Statistical methods were first developed in other fields and later applied to human behavior.
C. Statistics as a discipline is less than 50 years old.
D. The term "statistics" originally referred only to demographic data.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Most basic statistical procedures were first developed and used in other fields
(e.g., astronomy, agriculture) and were applied to the study of human behavior much later .
4. Statistics describes a set of __________ that is used for describing, organizing, and
interpreting information.
A. Statements
B. Rules and exceptions
C. Tools and techniques
D. Numbers and letters
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Statistics is defined as a set of tools and techniques used for describing,
organizing, and interpreting information .
5. Which of the following is NOT a reason students commonly feel anxiety about statistics?
A. Fear of mathematics
B. Belief that statistics is irrelevant to their field
C. Previous negative experiences with quantitative courses
D. Statistics requires advanced calculus for basic procedures
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Basic statistical procedures require only arithmetic and algebra—not advanced
calculus. Statistics anxiety typically stems from math fear, perceived irrelevance, and prior
negative experiences .
,6. (SATA) Which of the following are true statements about the relationship between
descriptive and inferential statistics?
A. Descriptive statistics summarize sample data.
B. Inferential statistics use sample data to make estimates about populations.
C. Descriptive statistics are always sufficient for drawing conclusions about populations.
D. Inferential statistics incorporate probability to account for sampling error.
Correct Answers: A, B, D
Rationale: Descriptive statistics summarize and organize data from a sample or population.
Inferential statistics use sample data to infer characteristics of populations, incorporating
probability and acknowledging sampling error. Descriptive statistics alone cannot generalize to a
population .
7. A "statistic" is to a "parameter" as a:
A. Population is to a sample
B. Sample is to a population
C. Mean is to a median
D. Descriptive is to inferential
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A statistic describes a sample; a parameter describes a population. The
relationship is sample → population, just as statistic → parameter .
Chapter 2: Computing and Understanding Averages: Means to an End
8. Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values (outliers)?
A. Median
B. Mode
C. Mean
D. Range
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The mean is sensitive to outliers because it uses every value in its calculation. A
single extreme score can substantially shift the mean. The median and mode are more resistant
to outliers .
, 9. What is the formula for computing the mean?
A. ∑X + n
B. ∑X / n
C. ∑X × n
D. n / ∑X
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The mean is computed by summing all scores (∑X) and dividing by the number of
scores (n) .
10. A researcher wants to know the most frequently occurring diagnosis in a psychiatric clinic.
Which measure of central tendency should be used?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. Range
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The mode is the most frequently occurring score and is appropriate for
categorical/nominal data such as diagnosis categories. The mean and median require
quantitative data .
11. For a dataset with extreme outliers, which measure of central tendency is most
appropriate?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. Standard deviation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The median represents the central position in an ordered dataset and is resistant
to extreme scores. When data are skewed or have outliers, the median is the preferred measure
.
