Q 1.22. - Elementary Statistics

Question

In Exercises 1.17-1.22, state whether the investigation in question is an observational study or a designed experiment. Justify your answer in each case.

Starting Salaries. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) compiles information on salary offers to new college graduates and publishes the results in Salary Survey. 

Do you think that these rates are descriptive statistics or inferential statistics? Explain your answer.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The investigation in question is an observational study.

Step 1. Given information.

The given investigation is:

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) compiles information on salary offers to new college graduates and publishes the results in Salary Survey. 

Step 2. State whether the given investigation is an observational study or a designed experiment.

This is a case of observational study. 

As in a sample survey, researchers merely observe characteristics and take measurements in an observational study.