Question

section 1-1
for exercises 1-8, state whether descriptive or inferential statistics has been used.

1. by 2040 at least 3.5 billion people will run short of water (world future society).
2. in a sample of 100 individuals, 36% think that watching television is the best way to spend an evening.
3. in a survey of 1000 adults, 34% said that they posted notes on social media websites (source: aarp survey).
4. in a poll of 3036 adults, 32% said that they got a flu shot at a retail clinic (source: harris interactive poll).
5. allergy therapy makes bees go away (source: prevention).
6. drinking decaffeinated coffee can raise cholesterol levels by 7% (source: american heart association).
7. in a survey of 1500 people who gave up driving, the average of the ages at which they quit driving was 85. (men’s health)
8. experts say that mortgage rates may soon hit bottom (source: usa today).

Explanation:

1. Inferential statistics is used as it's making a prediction about the future (by 2040).
2. Descriptive statistics is used as it's simply presenting data from a sample (36% in a sample of 100).
3. Descriptive statistics is used as it's reporting data from a survey (34% in a survey of 1000 adults).
4. Descriptive statistics is used as it's stating a proportion from a poll (32% in a poll of 3036 adults).
5. Inferential statistics is used as it's making a general claim (allergy therapy makes bees go away) likely based on some data - but not just presenting data.
6. Inferential statistics is used as it's making a claim about a relationship (drinking decaffeinated coffee and cholesterol levels) based on data.
7. Descriptive statistics is used as it's presenting the average age from a survey of 1500 people.
8. Inferential statistics is used as it's making a prediction about mortgage rates.

Answer:

1. Inferential statistics
2. Descriptive statistics
3. Descriptive statistics
4. Descriptive statistics
5. Inferential statistics
6. Inferential statistics
7. Descriptive statistics
8. Inferential statistics