Q39. [Essay]
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of studying samples instead of entire populations when their goal of research is to learn about populations.
Suggested answer: Sample response: Researchers are usually interested in understanding something about the characteristics of a population of interest. Since populations can be quite large, it is impractical and unnecessary to collect data from all elements that make up a population. Rather, researchers typically study samples to learn about populations. Samples are a subset of elements that collectively represent the entire population of interest to the researcher. Samples are smaller than the population from which it is taken. If a researcher studies a sample that closely resembles the population of interest, then they can be reasonably confident that the data will resemble what would have been taken from the entire population. However, samples will never be perfectly identical to the population, which means that there will always be some discrepancy between the two. If this discrepancy is large, then the information derived from the sample will not reflect that of the population.
Hard
Multiple Choice (5)
Q40. [Multiple Choice]
A research study examining employee health in the workplace is likely using ______ as the unit of analysis.
a) gender
b) health status ✓ correct
c) employment status
d) the organization
Q41. [Multiple Choice]
An example of an interval-ratio level of measurement is ______.
a) social class
b) gender
c) political party
d) income ✓ correct
Q42. [Multiple Choice]
Which factor is a dichotomous variable?
a) length
b) gym membership status ✓ correct
c) annual income
d) SAT score
Q43. [Multiple Choice]
The variety of research questions, hypotheses, and theories that are chosen for study is most likely to be influenced by ______.
a) having more powerful statistical tools
b) enabling access to a wider variety of databases
c) better understanding of how data are collected
d) perspectives that are shaped by human diversity ✓ correct
Q44. [Multiple Choice]
Which example best shows how statistical techniques can be used to study human diversity?
a) using graphs to examine how religious affiliations differ among geographic locations ✓ correct
b) using transcripts from interviews to document the experiences of immigrants
c) using archival records to trace the genealogy of a Native American tribal group
d) using satellite data to study how population changes affect water quality