1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data

E-Cigarette Survey In a survey of 36,000 adults, 3.7% said that they regularly use E-cigarettes (based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics).

a. Identify the sample and population.

Sampling Method The patients were recruited among those at a Veterans Affairs hospital. What type of sampling best describes the way in which the subjects were chosen: simple random sample, systematic sample, convenience sample, stratified sample, cluster sample? Does the method of sampling appear to adversely affect the quality of the results?

Exercises 5–8 refer to the study of an association between which ear is used for cell phone calls and whether the subject is left-handed or right-handed. The study is reported in “Hemispheric Dominance and Cell Phone Use,” by Seidman et al., JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Vol. 139, No. 5. The study began with a survey e-mailed to 5000 people belonging to an otology online group, and 717 surveys were returned. (Otology relates to the ear and hearing.)

Experiment or Observational Study Is the study an experiment or an observational study? Explain.

Sampling Method Assume that the population consists of all students currently in your statistics class. Describe how to obtain a sample of six students so that the result is a sample of the given type.

a. Simple random sample

Sampling Method Assume that the population consists of all students currently in your statistics class. Describe how to obtain a sample of six students so that the result is a sample of the given type.

b. Systematic sample

Sampling Method Assume that the population consists of all students currently in your statistics class. Describe how to obtain a sample of six students so that the result is a sample of the given type.

c. Stratified sample

Sampling Method Assume that the population consists of all students currently in your statistics class. Describe how to obtain a sample of six students so that the result is a sample of the given type.

d. Cluster sample

Sampling Method Assume that the population consists of all students currently in your statistics class. Describe how to obtain a sample of six students so that the result is a sample of the given type.

e. Convenience sample

E-Cigarette Survey In a survey of 36,000 adults, 3.7% said that they regularly use E-cigarettes (based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics)

b. Is the value of 3.7% a statistic or parameter?

In Exercises 9–20, identify which of these types of sampling is used: random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster.

Cormorant Density Cormorant bird population densities were studied by using the “line transect method” with aircraft observers flying along the shoreline of Lake Huron and collecting sample data at intervals of every 20 km (based on data from Journal of Great Lakes Research).

In Exercises 9–20, identify which of these types of sampling is used: random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster.

Reported and Observed Results A Harris Interactive study involved 1013 adults who were interviewed about washing their hands in restrooms and another 6336 adults who were observed in public restrooms.

In Exercises 9–20, identify which of these types of sampling is used: random, systematic, convenience, stratified, or cluster.

Criminology Researchers randomly selected 50 convicted felons from each category of burglary, auto theft, and assault.

In Exercises 25–28, refer to the data in the table below. The entries are for five different years, and they consist of weights (metric tons) of lemons imported from Mexico and U.S. car crash fatality rates per 100,000 population [based on data from “The Trouble with QSAR (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Fallacy)” by Stephen Johnson, Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, Vol. 48, No. 1].

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Conclusion If we were to use the sample data and conclude that there is a correlation or association between lemon imports and crash fatality rates, does it follow that lemon imports are the cause of fatal crashes?

In Exercises 29–32, indicate whether the observational study used is cross-sectional, retrospective, or prospective.

Heart Health Study Samples of subjects with and without heart disease were selected, and then researchers looked back in time to determine whether they took aspirin on a regular basis.

In Exercises 29–32, indicate whether the observational study used is cross-sectional, retrospective, or prospective.

Marijuana Study Researchers from the National Institutes of Health want to determine the current rates of marijuana consumption among adults living in states that have legalized the use of marijuana. They conduct a survey of 500 adults in those states.