Master Descriptive Statistics: A Comprehensive Guide for Nursing Students

Question 1

Standard deviation is a measure of data dispersion, which is crucial in statistical analysis. Explain how standard deviation measures dispersion and highlight its significance.

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation quantifies the average distance of data points from the mean, indicating how spread out the data is.

Answer

Standard deviation is the difference between the highest and lowest data points.

Answer

Standard deviation indicates the most frequently occurring value in a dataset.

Answer

Standard deviation is the sum of all data points divided by the number of points.

Question 2

How does sample size impact the accuracy of descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Larger sample sizes reduce sampling error, enhancing statistical reliability.

Answer

Smaller sample sizes are more convenient for data collection.

Answer

Sample size has no bearing on data representativeness.

Answer

Sampling error only occurs with small sample sizes.

Question 3

Which measure of central tendency is least affected by outliers?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Question 4

A dataset has a range of 15 and a standard deviation of 5. Describe the dispersion of the data.

Accepted Answer

Moderately dispersed

Answer

Highly dispersed

Answer

Slightly dispersed

Answer

Not dispersed

Question 5

A nurse calculates the standard deviation of a dataset as 0. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Identical data values

Answer

Perfect correlation in the data

Answer

No correlation in the data

Answer

High data dispersion

Question 6

A nursing instructor wants to compare the average test scores of two different classes. Which measure of central tendency is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Question 7

A dataset has a mean of 10 and a median of 12. What does this suggest about the data distribution?

Accepted Answer

Skewed to the right

Answer

Normal distribution

Answer

Skewed to the left

Answer

Bimodal distribution

Question 8

A nursing researcher aims to describe the variability of a set of patient vital signs. Which measure of dispersion is most suitable?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Question 9

A dataset has a standard deviation of 20. What proportion of the data falls within one standard deviation of the mean?

Accepted Answer

68%

Answer

38%

Answer

95%

Answer

99%

Question 10

Outliers can significantly impact statistical measures. Which measure of central tendency is **least** affected by outliers?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Question 11

In selecting statistical measures for data analysis, what should be the primary consideration?

Accepted Answer

Purpose of the analysis and the intended audience

Answer

Mathematical complexity of the measure

Answer

Availability of data

Answer

Researcher's personal preferences

Question 12

The mean of a data set is obtained by:

Accepted Answer

Dividing the sum of all values by the number of values in the data set

Answer

Locating the value that appears most frequently in the data set

Answer

Finding the middle value when the data set is arranged in ascending order

Answer

Subtracting the smallest value from the largest value in the data set

Question 13

The median of a data set is:

Accepted Answer

The middle value when the data set is arranged in ascending order

Answer

The average of all values in the data set

Answer

The value that occurs most often in the data set

Answer

The difference between the highest and lowest values in the data set

Question 14

The mode of a data set is:

Accepted Answer

The value that occurs most frequently in the data set

Answer

The sum of all values in the data set

Answer

The middle value when the data set is arranged in ascending order

Answer

The difference between the highest and lowest values in the data set

Question 15

The range of a data set is:

Accepted Answer

The difference between the highest and lowest values in the data set

Answer

The sum of all values in the data set

Answer

The value that occurs most frequently in the data set

Answer

The middle value when the data set is arranged in ascending order

Question 16

The standard deviation of a data set measures:

Accepted Answer

The average distance of each value from the mean

Answer

The value that occurs most frequently in the data set

Answer

The difference between the highest and lowest values in the data set

Answer

The proportion of values that fall within one standard deviation of the mean

Question 17

Which measure of dispersion is most appropriate for comparing the variability of two different data sets?

Accepted Answer

Coefficient of variation

Answer

Range

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Variance

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a suitable graphical representation for displaying descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Scatterplot

Answer

Histogram

Answer

Pie chart

Answer

Frequency table

Question 19

The primary purpose of descriptive statistics is to:

Accepted Answer

Summarize and describe a data set

Answer

Make inferences about a population

Answer

Predict future events

Answer

Test hypotheses

Question 20

Which measure of central tendency is most significantly influenced by extreme values?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Question 21

Which of the following is **not** a measure of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

Range

Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Question 22

Which measure of central tendency is most significantly impacted by extreme values within a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Question 23

Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values in a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Question 24

What does the standard deviation of a dataset measure?

Accepted Answer

Dispersion

Answer

Central tendency

Answer

Skewness

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of the normal distribution?

Accepted Answer

Bimodal

Answer

Mean = median

Answer

Bell-shaped

Answer

Symmetrical

Question 26

Which measure of dispersion is most sensitive to changes in extreme values?

Accepted Answer

Range

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Variance

Question 27

In a study, the population mean of a certain characteristic is 70. A sample of 100 individuals has a mean of 68. Which of the following is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

Sampling error

Answer

The sample is not representative

Answer

The characteristic has changed over time

Answer

Bias in the sample

Question 28

Which measure is NOT used to describe the central tendency of a numerical dataset?

Accepted Answer

Range

Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Answer

Median

Question 29

The standard deviation of a data set quantifies:

Accepted Answer

The spread or dispersion of the data

Answer

The symmetry of the data

Answer

The average value of the data

Answer

The range of the data

Question 30

Which situation is NOT suitable for applying descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Predicting the future value of a stock

Answer

Summarizing the results of a survey

Answer

Describing the characteristics of a population

Answer

Comparing the effectiveness of two medications

Question 31

To compare the mean blood pressure of two patient groups, a nurse researcher should use which statistical test?

Accepted Answer

Independent samples t-test

Answer

Correlation analysis

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

ANOVA

Question 32

When interpreting a p-value, a nurse researcher should:

Accepted Answer

Consider the context and potential consequences of Type I and Type II errors

Answer

Always reject the null hypothesis if the p-value is less than 0.05

Answer

Ignore the p-value and focus only on the effect size

Question 33

A nurse is investigating the relationship between sleep duration and academic performance. Which statistical method would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Correlation analysis

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Independent samples t-test

Question 34

In a dataset, what represents the value that occurs most frequently?

Accepted Answer

Mode

Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Question 35

Which measure of central tendency is most susceptible to being skewed by extreme values (outliers) in a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Answer

Median

Answer

Standard deviation

Question 36

The range of a dataset is calculated by subtracting the minimum value from the maximum value. Which formula represents this calculation?

Accepted Answer

Maximum value - Minimum value

Answer

Sum of all values divided by the number of values

Answer

Value that occurs most often

Answer

Square root of the variance

Question 37

What measure of dispersion quantifies how much individual data points deviate from the mean?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mean

Answer

Range

Question 38

A hospital is analyzing patient length of stay data. Which measure of central tendency would be most appropriate for describing the typical length of stay?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mode

Question 39

What is the primary purpose of calculating the standard deviation of a dataset?

Accepted Answer

To measure the spread or variability of the data

Answer

To calculate the average value

Answer

To find the most common value

Answer

To determine the range of the data

Question 40

Which of the following datasets has the greatest range?

Accepted Answer

{1, 10, 20, 30}

Answer

{5, 5, 5, 5}

Answer

{2, 4, 6, 8}

Answer

{0, 1, 2, 3}

Question 41

A nurse manager wants to compare the average blood pressure readings of two distinct patient groups. Which measure of central tendency should they utilize?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mode

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT a measure used in descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Hypothesis testing

Answer

Mean

Answer

Standard deviation

Question 43

When values are arranged from least to greatest, which measure of central tendency represents the middle value?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Question 44

What does the range of a dataset describe?

Accepted Answer

The difference between the highest and lowest values

Answer

The square of the standard deviation

Answer

The average value

Answer

The spread of the data around the mean

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a measure of dispersion in a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Variance

Answer

Range

Question 46

A nurse is reviewing patient blood pressure readings. Which measure is most appropriate to determine the typical blood pressure level?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mode

Question 47

What aspect of data does the standard deviation measure?

Accepted Answer

The spread or dispersion of data points

Answer

The peakedness of the data distribution

Answer

The asymmetry of the data distribution

Answer

The central or average value

Question 48

What does a large standard deviation in a data set indicate?

Accepted Answer

High variability in the data

Answer

A low mean value

Answer

A high median value

Answer

Low variability in the data

Question 49

What type of distribution is characterized by a bell-shaped curve?

Accepted Answer

Normal distribution

Answer

Bimodal distribution

Answer

Skewed distribution

Answer

Uniform distribution

Question 50

In a data set, the mode represents:

Accepted Answer

The value that appears most often

Answer

The sum of all values

Answer

The average of all values

Answer

The middle value when ordered from least to greatest

Question 51

What is a potential drawback of using the mean as a measure of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

It can be influenced by extreme values (outliers)

Answer

It is difficult to interpret

Answer

It is complex to calculate

Answer

It is not affected by extreme values