PAB5128 MCQ

What is the primary purpose of sampling in research?

• To avoid using statistics

• To make conclusions without data

• To gather data from the entire population

• To study a manageable subset representing a population

• To reduce the number of variables

What is the key feature of a random sample?

• It includes only the most accessible participants

• Every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

• It targets a specific subgroup intentionally

• It includes all members of the population

• It requires very large sample sizes

Which data collection method is most appropriate for gathering first-hand, observable behavior?

• Literature review

• Questionnaire

• Interview

• Focus group

• Field observation

A study measuring household income levels as: low, medium, high, is using what type of scale?

• Ratio

• Ordinal

• Nominal

• Discrete

• Interval

You test crop yield under 3 fertilisers (Organic/Synthetic/Compost) and 2 irrigation methods (Drip/Sprinkler). Two-way ANOVA results: Fertiliser p=0.20, Irrigation p=0.03, Interaction p=0.01. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

• Only irrigation matters; fertiliser never matters

• Only fertiliser matters; irrigation never matters

• Fertiliser effects differ by irrigation method

• No effects are present in the model

• Use multiple t-tests instead of ANOVA

What distinguishes cluster sampling from stratified sampling?

• Cluster sampling uses entire groups as samples

• Stratified sampling selects units randomly from clusters

• Cluster sampling requires the full population list

• Stratified sampling never requires grouping

• Cluster and Stratified sampling requires the full population list

In what situation would purposive sampling be used?

• When resources allow for full population coverage

• When targeting specific key informants or experts

• When every unit has equal selection chance

• For measuring rainfall data

• When sample size must be large

You collect “highest education level” (Primary, Secondary, Undergraduate, Postgraduate) and want to summarise it properly. Which summary is MOST defensible without making extra assumptions?

• Mean and standard deviation

• Median and interquartile range

• Variance and standard error

• Pearson correlation with income

• Z-score transformation and histogram

You find that farms using a new “bio-stimulant” have higher yields than farms not using it. However, most bio-stimulant users are also larger farms with better irrigation systems. What is the MOST likely confounder?

• Yield (it’s affected by the bio-stimulant)

• Bio-stimulant use (it’s the exposure)

• Irrigation quality (associated with bio-stimulant use and yield)

• Measurement error (always the main cause)

• Randomisation (it removes confounding)

Which of the following is a major benefit of stratified sampling?

• It eliminates sampling bias

• It reduces the need for analysis

• It ensures each subgroup is represented proportionally

• It eliminates outliers

• It only uses qualitative data