1. Using your own words describe what, for researchers, is a population. (2 points)
2. Now, again using your own words, describe a sample. (2 points)
3. The cover sheet for your General Social Survey Codebook provides you with detailed information about the GSS Survey done in 1998 and about the variables provided for your midterm project. On the first page of your Codebook discussion seems to be entirely focused on samples. Could your sample data be considered a population? Discuss how it could be that whatever sample information you are provided here, that sample could also be considered a population. (One paragraph, three-sentence minimum.) (3 points)
   Variables and Scales of Measurement
4. Look through the different variables that have been made available to you in the GSS Codebook and find two that would fit the scale of measurement categories below and that would be interesting in terms of getting to know your sample of individuals from 1998 America. Use both your textbook and class notes as a reference as you select one variable for each of the following two scales of measurement discussed in the text (1 point).

Example: Nominal Scale – Variable # 010 Variable Name Divorce

Nominal Scale – Variable # _____ Variable Name _____________________

Ratio Scale – Variable # ______ Variable Name ______________________

Chapter 2 – Frequency Distributions

Creating Frequency Distribution Tables

Using the data sheet you have been provided, create an appropriate frequency distribution table for each of the two variables you selected above. Your tables must include the name of the variable, and columns for frequency, proportion, and percent.

1. Table For Nominal Scale Variable (4 points)
2. Table for Ratio Scale Variable (4 points)
   Writing about Information from the Tables
3. What have you learned about your 1998 sample group from the values in your two tables? Write a two-paragraph description of your sample group using at least one sentence to address some information from the frequency, proportion, and percent columns of each of your tables. (8 points)

Chapter 3 – Central Tendency

Calculating Measures of Central Tendency

Calculate all three measures of central tendency for your ratio scale variable. You may use your data sheet to organize the data for calculating the mean (it’s already in the form of a table and can make your calculations easier); remember the definition of the median, and use scratch paper if necessary, to find the values you need for your calculation of this value; no calculations are necessary for finding the value of the mode. Remember to NOT include the values "98" and "99" as these numbers indicate a person who was probably not asked that particular question.

1. Mean (2 points)
2. Median (2 points)
3. Mode (1 point)
   Writing About What You Learned
4. Now, looking at what your table tells you about the shape of the distribution for your ratio scale variable and considering what you have learned about the three measures of central tendency, what is the best measure of central tendency for your ratio scale variable? (2 points)
5. Writing entirely in words, no symbols, what did you learn about your sample group from this best measure of central tendency? (2 points)
6. What do you think about what you learned about your sample group from the measures of central tendency? Remember, what you have found reflects upon people in 1998 America. (2 points)
7. Considering what you have learned about the measures of central tendency, what is the most appropriate measure for your nominal scale variable? (1 point)
8. Take a look at your table. What is the value for this measure of central tendency for your nominal scale variable? (1 point)

Solution: The mode is Female .

Chapter 4 - Variability

Calculating Measures of Variability

1. What is the most appropriate measure of variability for your ratio scale variable? (2 points)
2. Why is it the most appropriate measure? (2 points)
3. Under what circumstances would it be appropriate to also use other measures of variability and what measures would be used in those circumstances? (3 points)
4. Calculate the range and standard deviation for your ratio scale variable . Again, you may use your data sheet to organize the data for calculating standard deviation. Remember to NOT include the values "98" and "99" as these numbers indicate a person for whom you do not have the answer to that particular question. (8 points)
   Central Tendency & Variability Together What Do They Tell Us?
5. Create a small APA style table to present the mean and standard deviation for the ratio scale variable for your sample. (3 points)
6. Why is it important to consider BOTH central tendency and variability together to get an accurate picture of what is happening with a group of scores? Please explain in detail. You may use the mean and standard deviation from your sample to help illustrate the points you make. (5 points)

Chapter 5 – Z-Scores

Random Selection of a Single Individual

Select the first person in your set of data who answered all three questions on age, number of siblings, and average number of daily TV viewing hours. Because your sample is a random presentation of 30 people, selecting the first person who answered all three of these questions eliminates bias in your selection process. Record this person's answers to these three questions:

1. Age (1 point)
2. Siblings (1 point)
3. TV Hours (1 point)
4. Looking only at these three values, what is your opinion of how well this person represents the average 1998 U.S. citizen? Be sure to discuss the values for each of the three variables. How does this person compare to you or people you knew in 1998? (3 points)
   Calculation of Z-Scores
   Population means and standard deviations have been provided for each of these three variables…
   Age: population mean equals 45.64, population standard deviation equals 17.08
   Siblings: population mean equals 4.05, population standard deviation equals 3.71
   TV Hours: population mean equals 2.90, population standard deviation equals 2.31
   With this information, calculate Z-scores for each of your person's raw scores (Age, Siblings, TV).
5. Age Z = (2 points)
6. Siblings Z = (2 points)
7. TV Hours Z = (2 points)
   What Can Z-Scores Tell About this Person?
8. Reflecting on what the Z-scores tell you, what do you now think about how well this person represents the average U.S. citizen in 1998? What, if anything, does the Z-score tell you that was not apparent when you were only able to know this person's raw scores for each of these 3 variables? Include in your discussion what the population mean and standard deviation in the Z-score formula have added to what you can now know about this individual. (6 points)

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