Question: A health magazine presented results of a recent study that analyzed data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2000. Results reveal that for both men and women in the United States, heart disease remains the number one killer, victimizing 500,000 people annually. Age, obesity, and inactivity all contribute to heart disease, and all three of these factors vary considerably from one location to the next. The highest mortality rates (deaths per 100,000 people) were reported in New York, Florida, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, whereas the lowest were reported in Alaska, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

a. What is the population?

b. What is the sample?

c. Is the study descriptive or inferential in nature? Explain.

d. Is the study observational or experimental? Explain.

e. What are the variables?

f. In your opinion what level of measurement was used to obtain data from the variables?

g. Classify all the variables of the study as either attribute or numerical.

h. What parameter best characterizes the risk for each member of the population?