Northstar Learning › Brain Lab
Data and statistics challenges
Think-it-through questions on data and statistics, from teen to adult level, each with a clear explanation.
16 questions · free · no account needed · works offline once loaded
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A bar chart starts its vertical axis at 95 instead of zero. What should you notice?
Options: Small differences may look exaggerated · The data must be false · The bars show percentages automatically
Answer: Small differences may look exaggerated
A truncated axis can visually magnify differences.
A team scores 12 points in 3 games. What is its average points per game?
Options: 4 · 9 · 36
Answer: 4
12 divided by 3 equals 4 points per game.
On a distance-time graph, what does a steeper straight line usually mean?
Options: A lower starting distance · A faster speed · A longer rest
Answer: A faster speed
More distance is covered per unit of time.
A very large sample is biased. Does size fix the bias?
Options: No; systematic bias can remain · Yes, always · Only if the mean is used
Answer: No; systematic bias can remain
A larger biased sample can estimate the wrong population quantity precisely.
Two hospitals have different patient mixes. Why compare within risk groups as well as overall?
Options: Averages always remove bias · The group mix can reverse an aggregate comparison · The larger hospital is automatically better
Answer: The group mix can reverse an aggregate comparison
Different subgroup proportions can distort an overall rate comparison.
An estimate is 20 with a standard error of 4. Which statement is best?
Options: The estimate has substantial sampling uncertainty · The true value must be 24 · Every observation equals 20
Answer: The estimate has substantial sampling uncertainty
Standard error describes uncertainty of an estimate across samples.
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