Midterm Practice Questions and answers
Ann Landers asked whether they though engineers make good husbands.
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Do you think the responses she got are representative of public opinion? - answer-no
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Are Levi's 501 jeans really "in" on campus?
v v v v v v v
Based on the list of clothing choices used for the survey, is it a valid conclusion? -
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
answer-No
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A company is working on a new bonus structure that is designed to improve employee
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satisfaction, productivity, and motivation. After long hours the program is ready. Now
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you need convince your upper management that the new bonus system is more
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effective than the current one.
v v v v v
To do that you need to collect data. There are several ways you can do it.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Consider the options below. Choose the one that would give you the most accurate
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
evaluation of the new program.
v v v v v
a. Start using the new bonus system during the upcoming quarter and check whether
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employees are happy with it. Use that data to report new program performance.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
b. Use both bonus systems during the upcoming quarter. Randomly assign half of the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employees to receive bonus according to the current system and half - according to the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
new bonus structure. Compare the employee satisfaction in two groups at the end of the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
quarter.
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c. Use the new bonus system during th - answer-B) Use both bonus systems during the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
upcoming quarter. Randomly assign half of the employees to receive bonus according
v v v v v v v v v v v v
to the current system and half - according to the new bonus structure. Compare the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employee satisfaction in two groups at the end of the quarter.
v v v v v v v v v v v
Your manager feel that it is unfair to have half of the employees stay with the old bonus
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
structure. You need to convince her that using last quarter records for the reference is
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
not a good idea. Report at least one confounding factor that can be present in case the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
historic data are used. - answer-If the old bonus structure is wiped out completely, there
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
won't be an accurate comparison for the new structure to be measured by.
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You want to find out what people felt to be the most important problem facing society
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today.
v
,What is better: v v v
a. to give a fixed set of choices from which they must choose
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b. to give an open-ended question that allowed them to specify whatever they wished -
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answer-a) to give a fixed set of choices from which they must choose
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You and a friend are each doing a survey to see if there is a relationship between height
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and happiness.
v v v
Without discussing in advance, you both attempt to measure the height and happiness
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of the same 100 people.
v v v v v v
Are you more likely to agree on
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a) measurement of height
v v v v
b) measurement of happiness - answer-a) measurement of height
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Newsletter distributed by politician to his constituents gave results of nationwide survey
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on Americans' attitudes about educational issues.
v v v v v v
One question: "Should your legislature adopt a policy to assist children in failing schools
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to opt out of that school and attend an alternative school—public, private, or parochial—
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
of the parents' choosing?"
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From wording of question, can you speculate on what answer was desired?
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a) yes, they should
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b) no, they should not - answer-a) yes, they should
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An simple random sample of 1200 adult Americans was selected and asked: "In light of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the huge national deficit, should the government at this time spend additional money to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
establish a national system of health insurance?" Thirty-nine percent of those
v v v v v v v v v v v
responding answered yes.
v v v
What type of bias if any has occurred?
v v v v v v v
a) no bias
v v v
b) response bias
v v
c) non-response bias
v v v
d) under coverage bias
v v v
e) wording bias - answer-e) wording bias
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Suppose you had a telephone directory listing all the businesses in a city, alphabetized
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vby type of business.
v v v v
If you wanted to phone 100 of them to get a representative sampling of opinion on some
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vissue. You need to select which 100 to phone.
v v v v v v v v
Would it be a good idea to simply use the first 100 businesses listed? - answer-no
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
, Jason is buying a new computer. He is comparing various models using many different
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
variables. These variables play an important role in making the decision about which
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computer he will buy. Identify which of the following variables is/are categorical.
v v v v v v v v v v v v
a) does the computer come with a CD/DVD writer?
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b) what is the memory capacity of the computer?
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c) is the computer a laptop or desktop model?
v v v v v v v v v
d) how much does the computer cost? - answer-a) does the computer come with a
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
CD/DVD writer?
v v
c) is the computer a laptop or desktop model?
v v v v v v v v
Data are collected from 1100 randomly selected students who graduated between 2010
v v v v v v v v v v v
and 2018 from the University of Southern California. Some of the variables that were
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
collected are listed below. Identify which of the following variables is numerical.
v v v v v v v v v v v v
a) gender of student
v v v v
b) school/college from which student graduated
v v v v v v
c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v
d) graduation date in terms of semester (Fall 2010, Spring 2012, etc)
v v v v v v v v v v v v
e) graduation year (2010, 2012) - answer-c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Data are collected from 1100 randomly selected students who graduated between 2010
v v v v v v v v v v v
and 2018 from the University of Southern California. Some of the variables that were
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
collected are listed below. Identify which of the following variables is numerical.
v v v v v v v v v v v v
a) gender of student
v v v v
b) school/college from which student graduated
v v v v v v
c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v
d) graduation date in terms of semester (Fall 2010, Spring 2012, etc)
v v v v v v v v v v v v
e) graduation year (2010, 2012) - answer-c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
On Friday night, the owner of Chez Pierre in downtown Chicago noted the amount spent
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
for dinner at 28 four-person tables. Below is a sample of the amounts spent:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
103, 109, 170, 114, 113, 107
v v v v v
Find the median amount spent for a dinner. Report the numerical answer only. Do not
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
include $ sign in your answer. - answer-111
v v v v v v v v
A real estate website reported that the median price of single family homes sold in the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
past 9 months in the local area was $136,900 and the average price was $161,447.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Which do you think is more useful to someone considering the purchase of a home, the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
median or the average? - answer-median
v v v v v v
Ann Landers asked whether they though engineers make good husbands.
v v v v v v v v v
Do you think the responses she got are representative of public opinion? - answer-no
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Are Levi's 501 jeans really "in" on campus?
v v v v v v v
Based on the list of clothing choices used for the survey, is it a valid conclusion? -
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
answer-No
v
A company is working on a new bonus structure that is designed to improve employee
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
satisfaction, productivity, and motivation. After long hours the program is ready. Now
v v v v v v v v v v v v
you need convince your upper management that the new bonus system is more
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
effective than the current one.
v v v v v
To do that you need to collect data. There are several ways you can do it.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Consider the options below. Choose the one that would give you the most accurate
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
evaluation of the new program.
v v v v v
a. Start using the new bonus system during the upcoming quarter and check whether
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employees are happy with it. Use that data to report new program performance.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
b. Use both bonus systems during the upcoming quarter. Randomly assign half of the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employees to receive bonus according to the current system and half - according to the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
new bonus structure. Compare the employee satisfaction in two groups at the end of the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
quarter.
v
c. Use the new bonus system during th - answer-B) Use both bonus systems during the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
upcoming quarter. Randomly assign half of the employees to receive bonus according
v v v v v v v v v v v v
to the current system and half - according to the new bonus structure. Compare the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employee satisfaction in two groups at the end of the quarter.
v v v v v v v v v v v
Your manager feel that it is unfair to have half of the employees stay with the old bonus
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
structure. You need to convince her that using last quarter records for the reference is
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
not a good idea. Report at least one confounding factor that can be present in case the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
historic data are used. - answer-If the old bonus structure is wiped out completely, there
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
won't be an accurate comparison for the new structure to be measured by.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
You want to find out what people felt to be the most important problem facing society
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
today.
v
,What is better: v v v
a. to give a fixed set of choices from which they must choose
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
b. to give an open-ended question that allowed them to specify whatever they wished -
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
answer-a) to give a fixed set of choices from which they must choose
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
You and a friend are each doing a survey to see if there is a relationship between height
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
and happiness.
v v v
Without discussing in advance, you both attempt to measure the height and happiness
v v v v v v v v v v v v
of the same 100 people.
v v v v v v
Are you more likely to agree on
v v v v v v
a) measurement of height
v v v v
b) measurement of happiness - answer-a) measurement of height
v v v v v v v v
Newsletter distributed by politician to his constituents gave results of nationwide survey
v v v v v v v v v v v v
on Americans' attitudes about educational issues.
v v v v v v
One question: "Should your legislature adopt a policy to assist children in failing schools
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
to opt out of that school and attend an alternative school—public, private, or parochial—
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
of the parents' choosing?"
v v v
From wording of question, can you speculate on what answer was desired?
v v v v v v v v v v v
a) yes, they should
v v v v
b) no, they should not - answer-a) yes, they should
v v v v v v v v v
An simple random sample of 1200 adult Americans was selected and asked: "In light of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the huge national deficit, should the government at this time spend additional money to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
establish a national system of health insurance?" Thirty-nine percent of those
v v v v v v v v v v v
responding answered yes.
v v v
What type of bias if any has occurred?
v v v v v v v
a) no bias
v v v
b) response bias
v v
c) non-response bias
v v v
d) under coverage bias
v v v
e) wording bias - answer-e) wording bias
v v v v v v
Suppose you had a telephone directory listing all the businesses in a city, alphabetized
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vby type of business.
v v v v
If you wanted to phone 100 of them to get a representative sampling of opinion on some
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vissue. You need to select which 100 to phone.
v v v v v v v v
Would it be a good idea to simply use the first 100 businesses listed? - answer-no
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
, Jason is buying a new computer. He is comparing various models using many different
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
variables. These variables play an important role in making the decision about which
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
computer he will buy. Identify which of the following variables is/are categorical.
v v v v v v v v v v v v
a) does the computer come with a CD/DVD writer?
v v v v v v v v
b) what is the memory capacity of the computer?
v v v v v v v v v
c) is the computer a laptop or desktop model?
v v v v v v v v v
d) how much does the computer cost? - answer-a) does the computer come with a
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
CD/DVD writer?
v v
c) is the computer a laptop or desktop model?
v v v v v v v v
Data are collected from 1100 randomly selected students who graduated between 2010
v v v v v v v v v v v
and 2018 from the University of Southern California. Some of the variables that were
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
collected are listed below. Identify which of the following variables is numerical.
v v v v v v v v v v v v
a) gender of student
v v v v
b) school/college from which student graduated
v v v v v v
c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v
d) graduation date in terms of semester (Fall 2010, Spring 2012, etc)
v v v v v v v v v v v v
e) graduation year (2010, 2012) - answer-c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Data are collected from 1100 randomly selected students who graduated between 2010
v v v v v v v v v v v
and 2018 from the University of Southern California. Some of the variables that were
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
collected are listed below. Identify which of the following variables is numerical.
v v v v v v v v v v v v
a) gender of student
v v v v
b) school/college from which student graduated
v v v v v v
c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v
d) graduation date in terms of semester (Fall 2010, Spring 2012, etc)
v v v v v v v v v v v v
e) graduation year (2010, 2012) - answer-c) annual salary of the first job after graduation
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
On Friday night, the owner of Chez Pierre in downtown Chicago noted the amount spent
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
for dinner at 28 four-person tables. Below is a sample of the amounts spent:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
103, 109, 170, 114, 113, 107
v v v v v
Find the median amount spent for a dinner. Report the numerical answer only. Do not
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
include $ sign in your answer. - answer-111
v v v v v v v v
A real estate website reported that the median price of single family homes sold in the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
past 9 months in the local area was $136,900 and the average price was $161,447.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Which do you think is more useful to someone considering the purchase of a home, the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
median or the average? - answer-median
v v v v v v
