Final answer:
Discontinuous data collection involves sampling as it doesn't need constant observation or long spans of time. The number of times per week is quantitative discrete data, while the duration is quantitative continuous data. The study's systematic sampling used a rule-based selection method.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discontinuous data collection requires sampling. Sampling is a process used in statistical analysis in which a predetermined number of observations are taken from a larger population. Discontinuous data collection does not require large spans of observation time or constant observation; instead, it involves collecting data at specific intervals or instances, which is why sampling is essential.
The number of times per week is a type of data that can be counted and has a finite number of values, which makes it quantitative discrete data. On the other hand, duration (amount of time) is a type of data that can be measured to any level of precision, and thus it is considered quantitative continuous data. The colors of the houses would be classified as qualitative (categorical) data since they describe attributes or qualities without inherent numerical value.
In the specific study mentioned, where a resident of every eighth house around a park was interviewed, the sampling method used was systematic sampling. Systematic sampling involves selecting samples based on a system or rule, such as 'every eighth house,' which can be more efficient than simple random sampling in certain cases.
Sampling variability refers to how much a statistic varies from sample to sample within a population. A larger sample size tends to result in smaller variability between samples, providing a better and more reliable statistic.