1.3 how to understand research results

Question 1

descriptive statistics

Answer 1

statistics that describe the results of a research study in a concise fashion.

Question 2

frequency distribution

Answer 2

A depiction, in a table or figure, of the number of participants (frequency) receiving each score for a variable.

Question 3

median

Answer 3

The score positioned in the middle of a distribution of scores when all of the scores are arranged from lowest to highest.

Question 3

standard deviation

Answer 3

The average extent that the scores vary from the mean for a distribution of scores.

Question 4

mode

Answer 4

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution of scores.

Question 4

mean

Answer 4

The numerical average for a distribution of scores.

Question 5

range

Answer 5

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution of scores.

Question 6

normal distribution

Answer 6

A frequency distribution that is shaped like a bell. About 68% of the scores fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean, about 95% within 2 standard deviations of the mean, and over 99% within 3 standard deviations of the mean.

Question 7

percentile rank

Answer 7

The percentage of scores below a specific score in a distribution of scores.

Question 8

left-skewed distribution

Answer 8

An asymmetric frequency distribution in which there are some unusually low scores that distort the mean to be less than the median.

Question 9

right-skewed distribution

Answer 9

An asymmetric frequency distribution in which there are some unusually high scores that distort the mean to be greater than the median.