20 medium SAT Evaluating statistical claims questions

A university library surveyed 180 students who had checked out textbooks during the first week of the semester about their study habits. Of those surveyed, 74% reported studying in the library at least twice per week. Based on the results, which of the following is the largest population to which the results can be generalized?

• AAll students at the university
• BStudents who study in the library at least twice per week
• CAll students who use the university library
• DStudents who checked out textbooks during the first week of the semester

A sociologist surveyed 300 college students and found that students who participated in at least one extracurricular activity reported higher overall life satisfaction than students who did not participate in any extracurricular activities. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AParticipating in at least one extracurricular activity causes increased life satisfaction for all college students.
• BFor the students surveyed, there is an association between participating in at least one extracurricular activity and reporting higher life satisfaction.
• CExtracurricular participation is the most important factor determining life satisfaction among college students.
• DParticipating in at least one extracurricular activity causes increased life satisfaction for college students.

If the same survey were conducted by randomly selecting 600 shoppers from customer records across all store locations in the chain instead of interviewing people at one location, what would happen to the margin of error?

• AThe margin of error would remain $at \pm 4$% because the sample size is still 600 shoppers.
• BThe margin of error would increase because sampling from multiple locations adds geographic variability.
• CThe margin of error would be cut in half because the improved method doubles the effective sample coverage.
• DThe margin of error would decrease because random selection across all locations reduces location-specific bias.

A researcher surveyed 200 adults who reported sleeping fewer than 6 hours per night and 200 adults who reported sleeping 7 to 9 hours per night. The researcher found that those who slept fewer than 6 hours per night had a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• ASleeping fewer than 6 hours per night causes an increase in cardiovascular disease risk.
• BAmong the adults surveyed, there is an association between sleeping fewer than 6 hours per night and cardiovascular disease.
• CAll adults who sleep fewer than 6 hours per night will develop cardiovascular disease.
• DSleep duration is the only factor that influences cardiovascular disease risk.

A college administrator surveyed 150 students who visited the campus health center during flu season about their vaccination status. Of those surveyed, 78% reported having received a flu vaccine. Based on the results, which of the following is the largest population to which the results can be generalized?

• AAll students at the college
• BAll students who visited the campus health center during flu season
• CAll college students in the state
• DAll students who received a flu vaccine

A researcher surveyed 200 adult residents in a coastal city and found that those who reported eating fish at least three times per week had, on average, lower resting heart rates than those who reported eating fish less frequently. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AEating fish at least three times per week causes a reduction in resting heart rate for adults in coastal cities.
• BFor the residents surveyed, there is an association between eating fish at least three times per week and having a lower resting heart rate.
• CEating fish at least three times per week causes a reduction in resting heart rate for all adults.
• DEating fish at least three times per week is the primary factor affecting resting heart rate in the surveyed population.

A public health researcher reviewed medical records for 800 adults and found that those who regularly consumed coffee had a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes than those who did not consume coffee. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• ACoffee consumption is the primary factor preventing type 2 diabetes.
• BDrinking coffee causes a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• CAmong the adults whose records were reviewed, there is an association between coffee consumption and lower incidence of type 2 diabetes.
• DEveryone who drinks coffee will avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

A retail store manager surveyed 250 customers who used a loyalty card during December about their shopping preferences. Of those surveyed, 88% reported shopping at the store at least once per month. Based on the results, which of the following is the largest population to which the results can be generalized?

• AAll customers of the retail store
• BAll shoppers in the region
• CCustomers who used a loyalty card during December at the retail store
• DAll customers who shop at least once per month

A researcher surveyed 200 adults who regularly visit a particular gym and found that those who reported spending more time exercising each week also reported lower stress levels. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AExercising more each week causes a reduction in stress levels for adults.
• BFor the adults surveyed, there is an association between time spent exercising each week and reported stress levels.
• CAll adults who exercise regularly experience lower stress levels than adults who do not exercise regularly.
• DTime spent exercising is the primary factor affecting stress levels for adults who visit gyms.

A technology company randomly assigned 120 employees to either work from home or work in the office for 3 months. At the end of the period, employees who worked from home reported higher job satisfaction scores than employees who worked in the office. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AWorking from home is associated with higher job satisfaction among employees.
• BFor the 120 employees in this study, working from home causes higher job satisfaction than working in the office.
• CWork location is the main factor that determines job satisfaction for all employees.
• DAll employees will experience higher job satisfaction if they work from home rather than in an office.

A music streaming service surveyed 300 users who created playlists labeled as classical music about their listening preferences. Of those surveyed, 68% reported listening to music for more than 2 hours per day. Based on the results, which of the following is the largest population to which the results can be generalized?

• AAll users of the music streaming service
• BUsers of the music streaming service who created playlists labeled as classical music
• CAll people who listen to classical music
• DAll users who listen to music for more than 2 hours per day

An agricultural scientist randomly assigned 100 corn plants to receive either a new irrigation system or a standard irrigation system. After one growing season, plants that received the new irrigation system had greater average height than plants that received the standard system. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AThe new irrigation system is associated with greater plant height.
• BPlants that received the new irrigation system had better soil quality than plants that received the standard system.
• CThe new irrigation system will increase the height of all corn plants in any environment.
• DThe new irrigation system causes increased plant height in the corn plants in this study.

A medical researcher randomly assigned 240 patients with insomnia to receive either a new sleep medication or a standard sleep medication for 8 weeks. Patients who received the new medication reported better sleep quality than those who received the standard medication. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AThe new medication is associated with better sleep quality among insomnia patients.
• BFor all people with insomnia, the new medication will improve sleep quality more than the standard medication.
• CFor the patients in this study, the new medication causes better sleep quality than the standard medication.
• DThe type of medication is the sole factor determining sleep quality in insomnia patients.

A fitness app company sent a survey to 500 users who had logged workouts for at least 20 days in the previous month. Of those surveyed, 92% reported being satisfied with the app. Based on the results, which of the following is the largest population to which the results can be generalized?

• AAll users of the fitness app
• BAll people who use fitness apps
• CUsers of the fitness app who logged workouts for at least 20 days in the previous month
• DAll users who are satisfied with fitness apps

An economist analyzed employment data from 400 companies and found that companies with flexible work-from-home policies had lower employee turnover rates than companies without such policies. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AImplementing flexible work-from-home policies is the primary factor reducing employee turnover in companies.
• BImplementing flexible work-from-home policies causes reduced employee turnover for all companies.
• CFor the companies analyzed, there is an association between having flexible work-from-home policies and having lower employee turnover rates.
• DImplementing flexible work-from-home policies causes reduced employee turnover in companies.

A researcher surveyed 200 adults who regularly drink coffee and found that those who reported drinking more than 3 cups per day also reported higher productivity levels at work compared to those who drank fewer cups. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• ADrinking more than 3 cups of coffee per day causes increased productivity at work.
• BAmong the adults surveyed, coffee consumption is associated with self-reported productivity levels.
• CFor all adults, drinking more coffee will increase productivity at work.
• DCoffee consumption is the primary factor determining productivity levels at work.

A nutritionist examined dietary records and blood pressure measurements from 500 adults in a community health database. The analysis revealed that adults who consumed more than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day had higher average blood pressure than those who consumed less sodium. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AHigh sodium intake is associated with higher blood pressure among the adults in this database.
• BConsuming more than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day causes elevated blood pressure.
• CReducing sodium intake will lower blood pressure for all adults.
• DSodium intake alone determines blood pressure levels in adults.

A botanist randomly assigned 80 tomato plants to receive either a new fertilizer or a standard fertilizer for 12 weeks. Plants receiving the new fertilizer produced an average of 15 more tomatoes than plants receiving the standard fertilizer. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AThe new fertilizer is associated with increased tomato production in the plants studied.
• BFor all tomato plants, the new fertilizer produces 15 more tomatoes on average than the standard fertilizer.
• CThe new fertilizer causes tomato plants to produce more tomatoes than the standard fertilizer.
• DThe difference in tomato production could be explained by differences in sunlight exposure rather than fertilizer type.

A sports science team randomly assigned 60 high school athletes to either a traditional training program or a plyometric training program for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, athletes in the plyometric group showed significantly greater improvements in vertical jump height than those in the traditional program. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• AAll athletes in any sport will benefit from plyometric training.
• BPlyometric training is associated with better athletic performance across all measures.
• CFor the athletes in this study, plyometric training caused greater improvement in vertical jump height than traditional training.
• DAthletes who chose plyometric training experienced greater improvements in vertical jump height.

An economist analyzed employment data from 1000 college graduates and found that those who completed internships during college had higher starting salaries than those who did not complete internships. Which conclusion is best supported by the study design?

• ACompleting an internship during college causes graduates to receive higher starting salaries.
• BAmong the graduates analyzed, there is an association between completing internships and higher starting salaries.
• CEvery college student who completes an internship will earn a higher salary than those who do not.
• DInternship experience is the sole factor affecting starting salary outcomes.