Question

1.13 relaxing after work: the 2010 general social survey asked the question, \after an average work day, about how many hours do you have to relax or pursue activities that you enjoy?\ to a random sample of 1,155 americans. the average relaxing time was found to be 1.65 hours. determine which of the following is an observation, a variable, a sample statistic, or a population parameter.
a) an american in the sample.
population parameter
observation
sample statistic
variable
b) number of hours spent relaxing after an average work day.
sample statistic
variable
observation
population parameter
c) 1.65.
sample statistic
observation
population parameter
variable
d) average number of hours all americans spend relaxing after an average work day.
observation
variable
sample statistic

Explanation:

• a) An American in the sample is an individual unit being studied, which is an observation.
• b) The number of hours spent relaxing after an average work - day is what is being measured for each individual, so it is a variable.
• c) 1.65 is the average of the sample data, so it is a sample statistic.
• d) The average number of hours all Americans spend relaxing after an average work day is a characteristic of the entire population, so it is a population parameter.

Answer:

a) observation
b) variable
c) sample statistic
d) population parameter