Statistics Canada
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Exercise
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- Determine which of the following statements are reliable. Using your knowledge from this chapter, list the possible problems with each statement.
- The average annual income of Canadians is $29,100 according to a survey carried out in Oshawa. Answer 1a
- A large majority of people from rural areas support subsidies for failing farm operations. This is the result of a phone-in poll carried out by a regional television station. Answer 1b
- Statistics reveal that 30% of our nation's school leavers are below average in reading and writing. Answer 1c
- Canada's youth unemployment rate is over 12%; therefore, more than 12% of Canada's 15- to 24-year-olds are unemployed. Answer 1d
- Recently, a leading environmental group claimed that only 3% of Canada's land mass was forest cover, whereas a leading business organization claimed the figure was 6%. Answer 1e
- What are the two types of non-sampling error? Answer 2
- What is sampling error influenced by? Answer 3
- List the possible sources of systematic (or bias) errors. Answer 4
Class activity
- Conduct a class debate on the following idea:
- Expressing statistical information only through tables and graphs is not enough—data need to be supported by text.
