Statistical Questions and Variables

Identifying Statistical Questions

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

What is your favorite dessert?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Remember Statistical Questions must have

• A variety of answers

• A target population

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

What is the most popular favorite color of the 6th grade students at our school?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

How old is your BFF’s little brother?

• Statistical

• Not statistical

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

What is your favorite song right now?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

How many of our students are the oldest child in their family?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

How much time do students spend on their homework each night?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

Which grocery store do most of our 6th grade student's parent's prefer to shop at?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Multiple Choice

Is the following a statistical question?

Which genre of music is the most popular among the upper grade students at our school?

• Statistical

• Not Statistical

Types of Variables

Elizabeth Borres

Multiple Choice

The sample with the baking soda appeared bubbly.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The milk smelled as if it were spoiled.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The first plant specimen had three more leaves than the second specimen.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The rock sample consisted of 25 grams of quartz.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The parrots range from bright green to dark red.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

What's your favorite subject in school?

• Categorical
• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

How many states have you visited in your lifetime?

• Categorical
• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite type of food?

• Categorical
• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of categorical data?

• High School Graduate or Not
• Annual Income
• Years of Schooling Completed
• Years of playing an instrument

Multiple Choice

Is the information collected during the survey numerical or categorical data?

• Numerical data. I know this because the y-axis is labeled with numbers. 
• Numerical data. I know this because the surveyor counted how many people that they surveyed. 
• Categorical data. I know this because the responses to the survey are names. 
• Categorical data. I know this because each column is a different color. 

Multiple Choice

If your teacher asked you to make categorical observations about the class’s pet hamster, which group of words might be used?

• A mass of 3 kg, 11 cm long, age of 16 months

• A mass of 3 kg, 11 cm long, cute

• A long hair, white and brown colored, soft

• A temperature, length, weight

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of quantitative data?

• High School Graduate or Not

• Monthly paycheck amount

• Whether or not you are employed

• What type of vehicle you drive

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of quantitative data? 

• The color of your car
• A person's state of residence
• A person's Zip Code
• A Person's Height

Multiple Choice

Classify the variable as categorical or quantitative:

Gender

• Categorical

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

Classify the variable as categorical or quantitative:

GPA

• Categorical

• Quantitative