Question

Types of Data In each of the following, identify the level of measurement of the sample data (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) and the type of sampling used to obtain the data (random, systematic, convenience, stratified, cluster).

a. At Albany Medical Center, every 10th newborn baby is selected and the body temperature is

measured (degrees Fahrenheit).

b. In each of the 50 states, 50 voters are randomly selected and their political party affiliations are identified.

c. A pollster stops each person passing her office door and asks the person to rate the last movie that he or she saw (on a scale of 1 star to 4 stars).

Short answer

a. The level of measurement used is interval, and the sampling method used is systematic.

b.The level of measurement used is nominal, and the sampling method used is stratified.

c.The level of measurement used is ordinal, and the sampling method used is convenience.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1:Explanation of the four levels of measurement

Nominal: In this scale of measurement, the data possesses the characteristic to be classified into different categories.

Ordinal: In this scale of measurement, the data possesses the characteristic to be classified into different categories and ranking.

Interval: In this scale of measurement, the data possesses the characteristic to be classified, ordered, and be well-defined for differences.

Ratio: In this scale of measurement, the data possesses the characteristic to be classified and ordered. Also, it has a true zero value and well-defined gaps.

Explanation of the types of sampling method

Random: In simple random sampling, few items are selected from the population in a completely random manner. In this case, each item has equal likeliness to be selected.

Systematic: In systematic sampling, first, an item is selected randomly, and then a system(pattern) is followedfor further selections.

Convenience: In convenience sampling, the sample is collected through the easiest available subjects.

Stratified: In stratified sampling, few samples are randomly chosen from all strata of the population.

Cluster: In cluster sampling, all elements are treated as a sample from the randomly selected cluster of population.

Explanation of the scale of measurement and sampling methods

a.

Given: At a medical center, every 10^th newborn baby is recorded for body temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Body temperatures can be categorized, ranked, and compared for differences but do not have a true zero value. Thus, it is an interval-scaled data.

As the babies are selected in a systematic order (10^th newborn), the type of sampling is systematic.

b.

Given: From every 50 states, 50 randomly selected voters are identified for their political affiliation.

The political affiliations of the voters can only be classified as per the political parties. Thus, it is a nominal scaled datum.

As a certain number of voters is selected from each stratum of the population ( state), the sampling method is stratified sampling.

c.

Given: The pollster asks each person to review the movie on a scale of 1 to 4. He surveys each person passing his door.

The measure of movie rating on a scale of 1 to 4 can be classified and ranked only. Thus, the ratings are ordinalscaled data.

Gathering responses only from certain people who pass the office door is a type of convenience sampling.