Chapter 16 Quiz Question

Q: Which of the following should NOT be assumed when performing regression analyses?

a) continuous interval data

b) extrapolation of data

c) absence of nonsampling errors

d) simple random sampling

A: b) extrapolation of data

Evidence: In the text, Babbie writes "The use of regression analysis for statistical inferences is based on... simple random sampling, the absence of nonsampling errors, and continuous interval data," which covers the answers a, c, and d. Babbie, however, warns us about extrapolation, suggesting that some regression equations may not be representative when expanded to population sizes outside their range of observation (see the first paragraph of the second column on pg. 459).