Maths For Journalists (Bacj 130) 3Rd Trimester 2010 Question Paper
Maths For Journalists (Bacj 130) 3Rd Trimester 2010
Course:Communication And Journalism
Institution: Kenya Methodist University question papers
Exam Year:2010
FACULTY : EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT : COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM
TIME : 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS Answer Question ONE and any Other TWO Questions
Question 1
a) Briefly explain the following terms as used in statistics
i) Descriptive statistics
ii) Inferential statistics
iii) Sample
iv) Population
v) Parameter (5marks)
b) Discuss the main common levels of data measurement and give reasons as to why one of them is superior to the rest (10marks)
c) The table below shows the unemployment rates for Kenya over 40 years. (ungrouped data)
1.6 2.1 4.2 8.6 9.6
1.5 2.7 4.6 10.0 10.4
1.2 2.3 5.2 10.5 11.8
1.4 2.5 5.4 10.6 12.3
1.6 2.8 6.1 10.8 11.8
1.2 2.9 6.5 10.3 12.5
1.6 2.8 7.6 9.6 12.4
1.6 2.9 8.3 9.1 11.8
i) Construct a frequency distribution for the data using fire class intervals
ii) Comment on the usefulness of the frequency distribution in terms of one employment rate summarization capability (15marks)
Question 2
The table below show the number of U.S cars in service by top car rental companies in a recent year according to Auto Rental news.
Company Number of cars in service
Dollar 78,000 Avis 220,000 Hertz 350,000 Advantage 12,000 ACE 8,000 Enterprise 460,000 U-save 15,000 ANC Rental Group 322,000 Budget 146,000 Dollar 78,000 Toyota 12,000 Thrifty 51,000 Rent a wreck 81,000 Payless 81,000
From the figures provided compute the following
i) Mode
ii) Median
iii) Mean (20marks)
Question 3
The following data represents the number of appointments made per 15 minute interval by telephone solicitation for a lawn – care company.
Number of appointments Frequency of Occurrence
0 - Under 1 31 1 - Under 2 57 2 - Under 3 26 3 – Under 4 14 4 – Under 5 6 5 - Under 6 3
a) Calculate the mean of the data
b) Calculate the mode
c) Calculate the variance
d) Calculate the standard deviation (20marks)
Question 4
a) Describe the importance of statistics to a journalists (3marks)
b) How does a statistitian balance between vague and generalized stories with too many figures that become meaningless to the reader. (3marks)
c) Explain the various sources of data collection and give two examples in each catalogue (6marks) d) Discuss the importance of survey studies to journalists (3marks)
d) Discuss the various types of sampling methodology that a journalist can use (5marks)
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