Final answer:
The statement in question is true; the alphabetical listing of names and GPAs constitutes data, which could be either qualitative or quantitative in nature, and is essential for statistical analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
An alphabetic listing of names and GPAs is indeed an example of data, as it consists of collected facts, information, or statistics that can be used for reference or analysis.
Data can be either quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data, such as GPAs, can be measured and expressed numerically, while qualitative data, such as student names, describe qualities or characteristics. Data collected, such as the number of extracurricular activities students participate in, or the colors of their backpacks, illustrate different types of data used in statistical analysis.
Statistics courses often involve activities where students work with different types of data. For instance, identifying whether a sample is representative for a particular study or determining what type of data a graph shows. Understanding the distinction between different types of data, like discrete data (e.g. number of books) and continuous data, is crucial in the field of statistics.