AP Statistics Flashcards: Introducing Statistics: Are Variables Related?
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the first step when analyzing data for potential relationships?
The first step is to identify and formulate questions about the possible relationships or associations that might exist between the variables in the data.
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What is the first step when analyzing data for potential relationships?
The first step is to identify and formulate questions about the possible relationships or associations that might exist between the variables in the data.
If a basketball player makes 5 shots in a row, what statistical question should be asked before calling it a 'hot streak'?
One must ask if making 5 shots in a row is a statistically unlikely event (a real association) or if it's a pattern that could reasonably happen by random chance.
What does it mean to 'identify questions about possible relationships'?
This refers to the process of observing data and formulating specific, testable questions about how one variable might be associated with or influenced by another.
What is the fundamental challenge when interpreting patterns in data?
The fundamental challenge is determining whether an observed pattern reflects a true underlying relationship or is simply a product of random variability.
Define 'apparent association' in statistics.
An apparent association is a pattern or relationship between variables that is observed in a set of data but has not yet been tested to see if it is statistically significant or random.
Data shows that students who eat breakfast have higher GPAs. What is the initial question to investigate this relationship?
The initial question is whether the observed positive association between eating breakfast and GPA is statistically significant or if this pattern could be due to random chance or other factors.
Why is it crucial to distinguish between a random pattern and a real association?
Failing to distinguish between them can lead to incorrect conclusions, such as claiming a relationship exists when the observed pattern was merely due to chance.
What is the primary inquiry when exploring relationships between variables?
The primary inquiry is to determine whether an observed association between variables is statistically meaningful or if it could have occurred by random chance.
What are the two possible explanations for an apparent pattern observed in data?
An apparent pattern in data can either be a genuine association between variables or simply the result of random chance.
A researcher notices that cities with more libraries have higher crime rates. What critical question must be asked before concluding that libraries cause crime?
The researcher must ask if this apparent association could be random or if there is a lurking variable, such as population size, that relates to both.