Question 1

Using volunteers for a study introduces problems in the form of __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using volunteers for a study introduces problems...

Question 2

Suppose you find out that a certain drug reduces side effects of a certain therapy by 50 percent.Assuming the study was conducted properly, explain why this statistic of 50% may not be as meaningful as it sounds.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose you find out that a certain...

Question 3

Suppose you want to compare per capita income for the U.S.vs.all other countries and you use per capita income figures from last year's World Almanac and exchange rates from last Friday's financial pages.Which of the following components of a good news report is being affected most?

Accepted Answer

The nature of the measurements used is being affected the most. Per capita income figures from last year and exchange rates from last Friday are not current and may not accurately reflect the current economic situation. Using outdated data can lead to unreliable or misleading comparisons.

Question 4

When you see the phrase 'of those who responded' in reference to the results of a survey, what do you need to worry about? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When you see the phrase 'of those...

Question 5

Which of the following components of a good news report cannot be controlled by the researcher?

Accepted Answer

The amount of difference in the actual results cannot be controlled by the researcher, as it is determined by the data collected and analyzed. The other components listed (nature of measurements, selection of individuals or objects, differences in groups) can all be controlled to some extent by the researcher.

Question 6

The people who are most likely to respond to a volunteer response survey are those who have a strong __________ about the questions being asked.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The people who are most likely to...

Question 7

Give an example of how the timing of a survey can easily bias the results of a study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give an example of how the timing...

Question 8

In a survey, both the wording and the__________ of the questions can influence answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a survey, both the wording and...

Question 9

Which of the following is not an important component of a good news report regarding a statistical study?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are important components of a good news report on a statistical study. The source of the research ensures credibility, knowing who funded the research can reveal potential biases, and understanding the extent or size of claimed effects or differences helps in assessing the significance of the findings.

Question 10

Surveys relying on voluntary responses are likely to be __________ because only those who feel strongly about the issues are likely to respond.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Surveys relying on voluntary responses are likely...

Question 11

Why is it important to know how the individuals or objects in a study were selected?

Accepted Answer

Knowing how individuals or objects were selected for a study is important because it allows researchers to determine whether or not there is bias in the results and to whom the findings can be generalized. Therefore, both options A and B are correct. Option D is incorrect because the size of the sample alone does not provide information on the quality and validity of the study's results.

Question 12

A social worker wants to determine the extent to which people remember a tragedy (like September 11).She conducts a survey of a random sample of students in the General Psychology 101 course at her university.To whom can these results be generalized?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A social worker wants to determine the...

Question 13

A psychology student conducts a study to measure the amount of motivation students have for their math courses.She hands out a survey in every math class at her school on the day before spring break.What is the problem with her sampling process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A psychology student conducts a study to...

Question 14

Explain why it is important to find out not only who conducted a study, but also who funded the study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why it is important to find...

Question 15

Your book lists three major reasons that studies are conducted.Name one of them.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your book lists three major reasons that...

Question 16

Suppose a group of students who reported smoking marijuana was found to have lower test scores than a group of students who reported they don't smoke marijuana.What is the most that can be concluded with regard to the population of all students?

Accepted Answer

The study shows a correlation between smoking marijuana and lower test scores, but correlation does not necessarily mean causation. While it is possible that smoking marijuana may be related to lower test scores, it cannot be definitively concluded that one causes the other or that all students who smoke marijuana will have lower test scores.

Question 17

In the case of a cola taste test, explain why it is important that both the researchers and the participants be blind as to which brands are which.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the case of a cola taste...

Question 18

A survey of female readers of a certain women's magazine showed that of those responding, slightly over 90% answered no to the question: 'If you had it to do over again, would you marry the same man?' What does this mean to you, as an educated consumer of data?

Accepted Answer

This survey is too biased to be credible. The survey only includes readers of a certain women's magazine, which means it doesn't represent the general population or even all women. It's also possible that the readers of this particular magazine are dissatisfied with their marriages for reasons unique to that group, such as the focus of the magazine's content. Therefore, this survey does not provide us with a reliable insight into the overall trend of women's satisfaction with their marriage.

Question 19

Which of the following components of a good news report does not pertain to the issue of bias?

Accepted Answer

All of these components (knowing the source of the research and of the funding, knowing how the individuals or objects studied were selected, and understanding any differences in the groups being compared, in addition to the factor of interest) are important in identifying and addressing potential biases in a news report.

Question 20

Why is it important to know about any differences in two groups being compared, in addition to the factor of interest?

Accepted Answer

It is important to know about any differences in two groups being compared because if the groups are too different, it becomes difficult to see the effects that are due only to the factor of interest.

Quiz 2: Reading the News