Final answer:
To interpret data from a survey of high school students, it is important to understand percentiles and how survey context can affect results. Percentiles indicate the percentage of students who fall below a particular data point, and survey results can be misleading without considering factors like time of data collection and sample size.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand deals with interpreting data from a national survey of high school students and understanding how this data reflects on their study habits and school-related activities. In particular, understanding percentiles and the distribution of data in a school setting is essential for this kind of analysis. It is crucial to note that the question does not provide enough context to accurately pick one of the given survey statements (A, B, C, D) as true without additional data. Therefore, an assumption must be made, based on the examples provided, to interpret the survey outcomes.
Consider Example 2.22, which states that the 30th percentile of the number of hours that students spend studying per week is seven hours. This implies that 30 percent of students study seven hours or fewer within a week. On the flip side, 70 percent of students study more than seven hours per week. A good or bad value judgment should not be made concerning the higher or lower percentile, as studying time varies according to each student's needs, abilities, and course requirements.
It's important to consider the context in which survey data is collected. For instance, noting the time of day when students are surveyed can affect results, as exemplified in the statement regarding survey teams counting students at different times of the day. Another example given suggests that the increased performance by 10 percentage points after extending the school day does not conclusively prove that longer school days lead to improved achievement. It’s necessary to consider other factors such as the 'self-selection' of the students who chose to attend the school with the longer day.
The reliability of survey results also depends on sample size, as noted in the comment about 15 students being too small a sample for conclusive results about exercise habits. A larger sample would provide more confidence in the survey outcomes.