Deck 6: Introduction to Inferential Statistics Sampling and the Sampling Distribution

Question 1

What are the three distributions involved in every application of inferential statistics?

A) sample, sampling, and population
B) sample, stratification, cluster
C) EPSEM, random, probability
D) sampling, percentage, normal

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The shape of the sampling distribution of sample means can be assumed to be normal when N is________.

A) a large percentage of the population.
B) any number as long as you know the value of the population mean.
C) 100 or more.
D) at least twice the value of the population standard deviation.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

When using systematic sampling, the researcher must________.

A) select only representative cases.
B) make sure that the list of the population is random or, at least, non-cyclical with respect to the variables of interest.
C) select every case.
D) select only respondents who are likely to cooperate.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The EPSEM sampling method that does not require the researcher have access to a complete list of their population is________.

A) cluster sampling.
B) nonprobability sampling.
C) simple random sampling.
D) stratified random sampling.

Question 5

The fundamental principle of probability sampling is that a sample selected by________ is very likely to be __________.

A) EPSEM, representative
B) stratification, large
C) telephone polls, cheap
D) clusters, stratified

Question 6

Unlike the sample and population distributions, the sampling distribution is________.

A) empirical.
B) theoretical.
C) random.
D) EPSEM.

Question 7

Cluster sampling often involves selecting________.

A) geographical areas.
B) systematic stratified clusters.
C) older respondents only.
D) cases alphabetically.

Question 8

Statistics are to parameters as________.

A) samples are to populations.
B) populations are to samples.
C) medians are to standard deviations.
D) percentages are to proportions.

Question 9

The mean age of all college graduates is 35. If the population distribution is normal, the mean of any sampling distribution of sample mean ages of college graduates will be________.

A) within plus or minus 1 standard deviation of 35.
B) close to 35.
C) 35.
D) determined by the size of the distribution.

Question 10

In systematic random sampling, the researcher randomly selects________.

A) the first case and every k th case thereafter.
B) cases following any systematic pattern.
C) every other case.
D) cases according to their scores.

Question 11

By the theorems presented in the text, we know that the mean of a sampling distribution of sample means will be________.

A) the same as the population mean.
B) close to the value of the sample mean.
C) between the population and sample means in value.
D) representative of the entire population.

Question 12

Your sample size is 1000. It is safe to assume that________.

A) the shape of the sampling distribution of sample means is normal.
B) the sample is representative of the population.
C) the population distribution is normal.
D) the sample distribution is normal.

Question 13

As noted in the text, telemarketers often use________.

A) simple random sampling only.
B) stratified sampling only.
C) nonprobability sampling only.
D) the sampling techniques used by social scientists.

Question 14

The simple random sample requires________.

A) a defined population.
B) a complete list of all cases in the population.
C) a random selection process.
D) All of the answer choices

Question 15

Of the three distributions used in inferential statistics, which is only theoretical?

A) population distribution
B) sampling distribution
C) sample distribution
D) None of the distributions are only theoretical.

Question 16

With a sample size of 75, a normal sampling distribution can be assumed if________.

A) the cases in the sample are homogeneous.
B) the cases in the sample are heterogeneous.
C) the population distribution is normal.
D) the sample distribution is normal.

Question 17

For a simple random sample, each case and each combination of cases in the population must________.

A) be representative.
B) be included in the sample.
C) be contacted by the researcher.
D) have an equal probability of being chosen for the sample.

Question 18

In a sampling distribution of sample means, most of the sample means will________.

A) cluster around the true population value.
B) be below the population mean in value.
C) be above the population mean in value.
D) not follow any particular pattern.

Question 19

Statistics are characteristics of samples while ________ are characteristics of ___________.

A) percentages, populations
B) medians, clusters
C) parameters, stratified samples
D) parameters, populations

Question 20

The sampling distribution and its characteristics are based upon________.

A) its measurement in the population.
B) empirical data.
C) nonprobability data.
D) laws of probability.

Question 21

Using the General Social Survey as an example, the concept of the sampling distribution allows us to link the sample of about ____ respondents to the population of about _______ adult Americans.

A) 10,000, 200 million
B) 225 million, 3000
C) a few million, 300 million
D) several thousand, 235 million

Question 22

Define and distinguish between the sample distribution, the sampling distribution, and the population distribution. How are these three distributions related to each other in inferential statistics?________. What symbols are used to identify the means and standard deviations of each of the three distributions?

Question 23

If a sample is representative, it________.

A) is stratified.
B) is restricted to the calculation of parameters only.
C) reproduces the characteristics of the population.
D) resembles the sampling distribution.

Question 24

In your own words, explain the purpose of inferential statistics. Include in your essay the concepts of sample, population, statistic, parameter, representativeness, and the principle of EPSEM. Make sure that you define each of these terms as you develop your essay.

Question 25

Which of the following is necessary to calculate the standard error of the mean?

A) Variance
B) Standard deviation of the population
C) Correlation between population and sample
D) Median of the population

Question 26

When we use larger samples (N 100) we can assume a normal sampling distribution because of________.

A) common sense.
B) the Central Limit Theorem.
C) what we know about the population.
D) what we know about the sample.

Question 27

There are about 70 million eligible voters in a society. A public opinion pollster has estimated their probable choices for the next president with a sample of 2,000 randomly selected citizens. In this example, the 2,000 citizens are a __________ and the 70 million eligible voters are a _______.________.

A) sampling distribution, sample distribution
B) population, cluster
C) cluster, proportion
D) sample, population

Question 28

The standard deviation of the sampling distribution is represented by which of the following symbol(s)?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 29

The standard error of the mean is the same thing as________.

A) the standard deviation of a sample.
B) the standard deviation of a population.
C) the standard deviation of a sampling distribution.
D) the variance of a sample.

Question 30

Social scientists use inferential statistics to generalize to populations after they have collected________.

A) a representative sample.
B) all the information possible from the entire population.
C) an EPSEM sample from the population of interest.
D) at least 100 cases from all possible populations.

Question 31

A researcher tests a theory about sexism by administering a survey to the 200 students in her sociology classes. This sample is best characterized as a________.

A) cluster sample.
B) stratified random sample.
C) nonprobability sample.
D) sampling distribution.

Question 32

A researcher is conducting a study by asking people shopping at a local mall about their opinions on gay marriage. The researcher is using:________.

A) simple random sampling.
B) cluster sampling.
C) stratified random sampling.
D) nonprobability sampling.

Question 33

A researcher questioned 45 randomly-selected members of the freshman class about their experiences drinking alcohol and used these responses to estimate the drinking behavior of the entire freshman class of 1500. In this example, the 45 interviewees were the __________ and the ___________ was the population.

A) sample, student body
B) parameters, freshman class
C) statistics, parameters
D) sample, freshman class

Question 34

Unless a sample is __________, it cannot be used to make accurate generalizations to a population.

A) very large
B) very small
C) representative
D) stratified

Question 35

I surveyed 48 randomly-selected residents of the apartment complex where I live to determine their voting habits. I can only use this information to generalize to all the residents if________.

A) there is evidence of a normal population distribution.
B) the 48 residents all have the same voting habits.
C) the 48 residents are equally divided in their voting habits.
D) the sample distribution is not normal in shape.

Question 36

The Central Limit Theorem states that as sample size becomes large________.

A) the sampling distribution of sample means approaches normality.
B) the sampling distribution of sample means becomes larger.
C) the population distribution becomes normal.
D) the sample distribution becomes normal.

Question 37

Compared to probability samples, nonprobability samples________.

A) are usually cheaper to assemble.
B) are always much larger.
C) are usually more expensive to assemble.
D) allow for generalizations to populations.