Unit 5A

Fundamentals of
Statistics
Page 286

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Slide 5-1

Learning Objectives
Students will demonstrate the ability to:

Identify the population, sample, sampling method, topic,

and variables in a statistical study
Identify potential sources of bias in a statistical study
Describe and recognize whether a study is not blind,
single-blind, or double-blind
Identify whether a study is observational or experimental
Calculate the confidence interval of a sample statistic
given the margin of error
Use confidence intervals to determine whether a survey
result is statistically significant

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Example: Identifying Data Sets

In a recent survey, 1708 adults in the United States
were asked if they think global warming is a problem
that requires immediate government action. Nine
hundred thirty-nine of the adults said yes. Identify
the population and the sample. (Adapted from: Pew
Research Center)

Larson/Farber 4th ed.

5-A

Solution: Identifying Data Sets

The population consists of

the responses of all adults in
the U.S.
The sample consists of the
responses of the 1708 adults
in the U.S. in the survey.
The sample is a subset of the
responses of all adults in the
U.S.

Larson/Farber 4th ed.

Responses of adults in
the U.S. (population)
Responses of
adults in survey
(sample)

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Example: Distinguish Parameter and Statistic

Decide whether the numerical value describes a
population parameter or a sample statistic.
1.

A recent survey of a sample of MBAs

reported that the average salary for an
MBA is more than $82,000. (Source: The
Wall Street Journal)

Solution:
Sample statistic (the average of $82,000 is
based on a subset of the population)
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

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Example: Distinguish Parameter and Statistic

Decide whether the numerical value describes a
population parameter or a sample statistic.
2.

Starting salaries for the 667 MBA

graduates from the University of
Chicago Graduate School of Business
increased 8.5% from the previous year.
Solution:
Population parameter (the percent increase
of 8.5% is based on all 667 graduates
starting salaries)

Larson/Farber 4th ed.

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Identify the Sampling Method Used

You are conducting a survey of students in a dormitory.

You choose your sample by knocking on the door of every
fifth room.

To survey opinions on a proposed new water line, a

research firm randomly draws the addresses of
200 homeowners from a public list of all homeowners.

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Page 298 Identify the Sampling Method

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Page 298

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Page 298

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Page 299

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How confident are we?

Unless we are told otherwise, assume that the

margin of error is defined to give us 95%
confidence that the confidence interval contains
the population parameter.

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Example 6 Close Election

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