The presidential election campaign is in full swing, and the candidates have hired polling organizations to take regular polls to find out what the voters think about the issues. What does the standard of informed consent require the polling organizations to tell potential respondents?

The presidential election campaign is in full swing, and the candidates have hired polling organizations to take regular polls to find out what the voters think about the issues. What does the standard of informed consent require the polling organizations to tell potential respondents?

(A) The achievements of the candidate or the political party
(B) Which candidate the pollster personally supports and why
(C) The election process and date of election
(D) The kind of questions they will be asked and the approximate amount of time required to complete the survey


Answer: (D) The kind of questions they will be asked and the approximate amount of time required to complete the survey

A local newspaper in the State of Connecticut conducts a poll on whether the people of the state believe the "No Child Left Behind" law is effective. The newspaper contacts 1000 subscribers. The population of this poll is:

A local newspaper in the State of Connecticut conducts a poll on whether the people of the state believe the "No Child Left Behind" law is effective. The newspaper contacts 1000 subscribers. The population of this poll is:

(A) The 1000 people surveyed
(B) Those who favor or disapprove of the "No Child Left Behind" law
(C) People who live in the State of Connecticut
(D) Those who are affected by "No Child Left Behind"


Answer: (C) People who live in the State of Connecticut

The sampling variability of a statistic reflects

The sampling variability of a statistic reflects

(A) the difference in the value of a statistic across repeated samples
(B) the error due to a voluntary response sample
(C) the difference in responses with a single sample
(D) the difference between the statistic and the true parameter


Answer: (A) the difference in the value of a statistic across repeated samples

A manufacturer of chisels is interested in determining how the angle at which the cutting edge is sharpened affects tool abrasion. To answer this question, engineers obtain 20 similar chisels. They sharpen five chisels at each of 22.5, 25, 27.5, and 30 degrees. Then, they measure the amount of abrasion (rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst) after cutting several mortises (square holes) in 3/4-inch hard maple boards. Which of the following is the explanatory variable in the given study?

A manufacturer of chisels is interested in determining how the angle at which the cutting edge is sharpened affects tool abrasion. To answer this question, engineers obtain 20 similar chisels. They sharpen five chisels at each of 22.5, 25, 27.5, and 30 degrees. Then, they measure the amount of abrasion (rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst) after cutting several mortises (square holes) in 3/4-inch hard maple boards. Which of the following is the explanatory variable in the given study?

(A) Mortises
(B) Tool abrasion
(C) Angle of cutting edge
(D) Sharpening of chisels


Answer: (C) Angle of cutting edge

In a sample survey, the following question was asked: "Which of the following best represents your opinion on gun control?

In a sample survey, the following question was asked: "Which of the following best represents your opinion on gun control? 

1. The government should take away our guns.
2. We have the right to keep and bear arms.
Identify the correct statement with reference to the survey question asked:


(A) The question is slanted toward a desired response in favor of the first statement.
(B) The question is slanted toward a desired response in favor of the second statement.
(C) The question is not slanted toward a desired response.
(D) None of the above are true.


Answer: (B) The question is slanted toward a desired response in favor of the second statement.

A New York Times Poll on women's issues interviewed 1025 women randomly selected from the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. The poll found that 47% of the women said they do not get enough time for themselves. The poll announced a margin of error of ±3 percentage points for 95% confidence in its conclusions. The confidence statement, in relation to the given scenario, is: "We are 95% confident that between 44% and 50% of all women would say that they do not get enough time for themselves." Which of the following statements correctly explains the meaning of the term '95% confidence', in the confidence statement?

A New York Times Poll on women's issues interviewed 1025 women randomly selected from the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. The poll found that 47% of the women said they do not get enough time for themselves. The poll announced a margin of error of ±3 percentage points for 95% confidence in its conclusions. The confidence statement, in relation to the given scenario, is: "We are 95% confident that between 44% and 50% of all women would say that they do not get enough time for themselves." Which of the following statements correctly explains the meaning of the term '95% confidence', in the confidence statement?

(A) The interval 44% to 50% is based on a procedure that produces a margin of error (of ±3) 95% of the time.
(B) The interval 44% to 50% is based on a procedure that includes a sample representing 95% of population.
(C) The interval 44% to 50% is based on a sample that we are 95% confident is a simple random sample.
(D) The interval 44% to 50% is based on a procedure that captures the true population value 95% of the time.


Answer: (D) The interval 44% to 50% is based on a procedure that captures the true population value 95% of the time.