Question

A study of teens in Canada conducted by the polling organization Ipsos ("Untangling the Web: The Facts About Kids and the Internet," January 25,2006 ) asked each person in a sample how many hours per week he or she spent online. The responses to this question were used to learn about the mean amount of time spent online by Canadian teens.

Short answer

The mean time spent online by Canadian teens is calculated by adding the total hours reported from the survey responses and dividing by the number of teens surveyed.

Step-by-step solution

Obtain the Data

Gather all the responses to the question of how many hours per week each person in the sample spent online. This data could potentially consist of a range of integers or floats which correspond to the hours each individual spent online.

Sum up the Responses

Once the data is gathered, add together all the responses. To make sure that the calculation is correct, repeat the sum operation several times or use a calculator. This will give the total number of hours spent online by the entire group.

Divide by the Total Number in the Sample

After obtaining the sum, divide this number by the total count of individuals who participated in the survey. This operation will give you the mean (average) hours spent online per week by Canadian teens.

Key concepts

Sample Data Collection

Gathering accurate information is the foundation of any statistical study, and sample data collection is the process of obtaining this information from a part of a larger population to make inferences about the whole. Let's break down how it was done in the study of Canadian teens' online habits. To start, the firm Ipsos needed to choose a representative sample of teens, ensuring that it reflected the wider population's characteristics.

During the sample data collection phase, more than just the numerical data is important. Researchers must carefully consider the design of their data collection approach, which includes the survey's questions, the sampling method, and ensuring participants' responses are as truthful and accurate as possible. In our example, each teen was asked how many hours per week they spent online. To increase the validity of responses, the survey could include assurances of anonymity and use age-appropriate language to ensure understanding.

• Sample selection should aim for a diverse demographic to mirror the general population.
• Question clarity contributes to the reliability of the responses.
• Consistency in data collection methods helps maintain the study’s integrity.

Summarizing Data

Once the sample data is collected, the next step is summarizing this data to extract useful information and make sense of it. Summarizing can take many forms, from visual charts to numerical summaries. In the study we're examining, summarizing meant aggregating the total hours spent online by the teens.

To summarize data effectively:

• Ensure that all data is present and accounted for before starting.
• Verify the accuracy of data entry to prevent errors in the final outcome.
• Double-check calculations or use reliable software for large datasets.

Each teen’s reported hours were added together to give a total figure. This approach allowed researchers to move from individual data points to a comprehensive view of the group's online behavior. Summarizing data is not just about crunching numbers; it’s a crucial step that sets the stage for accurate analysis.

Calculating Mean

The mean, commonly referred to as the average, is a measure of the central tendency of a data set. It provides a quick snapshot of the typical value you could expect within a dataset. To calculate the mean time spent online by teens in our example, you take the total sum of hours reported and divide it by the number of respondents.

Calculating the mean involves:

• Adding all values together to get the total sum.
• Counting the number of individual data points (in this case, the number of teens surveyed).
• Dividing the total sum by the number of data points.

The resultant figure represents the average number of hours spent online per teen. This singular number could then be used to draw broader conclusions about online behavior trends among Canadian teens.