Practice Questions
1. Briefly describe the terms below.
(a) Statistics (c) Inferential statistics
(b) Descriptive statistics (d) Variable
2. Explain any ONE difference between data and information.
3. Using relevant examples, explain any one difference between the following terms:
(a) Qualitative data and quantitative data (c) Nominal data and ordinal data
(b) Discrete data and continuous data
4. Explain any ONE advantage of using primary data, with regards to secondary data.
5. Define the term data collection.
6. In data collection, explain any ONE advantage and any ONE disadvantage of using interviews,
with regards to observation.
7. Explain any TWO advantages and any TWO disadvantages of using the following in data
collection:
(a) Questionnaires (b) Experiments
8. Define the terms below.
(a) Census (e) Population size
(b) Survey (f) Sample size
(c) Population (g) Sampling
(d) Sample (h) Sampling frame
9. Give any TWO advantages and any TWO disadvantages of scientific sampling techniques.
10. Give any TWO advantages and any TWO disadvantages of non-scientific sampling techniques.
11. Explain any ONE difference between stratified sampling and cluster sampling.
12. Which scientific sampling technique/s would you use when you have a population that is
(a) heterogeneous. (b) homogeneous.
Please provide a reason for each answer given above.
13. An NGO has read in the papers that very few households in Soche, quarry area, do not have
toilets. To confirm this, the NGO would like to collect first hand data necessary for intervention.
Assume that the NGO plans to use cluster sampling, state the necessary stages to be followed
to obtain the sample.
14. You have 4 strata in the population- A, B, C, and D. The strata have the population sizes of
200, 400, 800 and 600 respectively. The researcher wants a sample with sample size 200. How
many individuals is each strata going to contribute to the final sample?
[20, 40, 80, 60]