1. Smokers are much more likely to speed, run red lights, and get involved in car accidents than nonsmokers. (a) Can you think of reasons why this statement might be misleading? Hint: Make a list of six factors that you think would cause car accidents. Is smoking on your list? (b) Can you suggest a causal link between smoking and car accidents? 2. When Pennsylvania repealed a law that required motorcycle riders to wear helmets, a news headline reported, Deaths Soar After Repeal of Helmet Law. After reading the story, Bill said, But its just a correlation, not causation. Do you agree with Bills conclusion? Explain. 3. A recent study showed that women who lived near a freeway had an unusually high rate of rheumatoid arthritis. Sarah said, They should move away from freeways. Is there a fallacy in Sarahs reasoning? If so, explain which one. 4. A research study showed that adolescents who watched more than 4 hours of TV per day were more than five times as likely to start smoking as those who watched less than 2 hours a day. The researchers speculate that TV actors portrayals of smoking as personally and socially rewarding were an effective indirect method of tobacco promotion. List in rank order six factors that you think cause adolescents to start smoking. Did TV portrayals of attractive smokers appear on your list? 5. Which type of data (categorical, discrete numerical, continuous numerical) is each of the following variables? Number of spectators at a randomly chosen Wimbledon tennis match. Water consumption (liters) by a randomly chosen Wimbledon player during a match. Gender of a randomly chosen tennis player in the Wimbledon tennis tournament. 6. Which measurement level (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) is each of the following variables? Number of annual office visits by a particular Medicare subscriber. Daily caffeine consumption by a six-year-old child. Type of vehicle driven by a college student. 7. Would you use a sample or a census to measure each of the following? Why? If you are uncertain, explain the issues. The number of cans of Campbells soup on your local supermarkets shelf today at 6:00 . The proportion of soup sales last week in Boston that was sold under the Campbells brand. The proportion of Campbells brand soup cans in your familys pantry. 8. A financial magazine publishes an annual list of major stock funds. Last year, the list contained 1,699 funds. What method would you recommend to obtain a sample of 20 stock funds?
