Analysis Of Data

Question 1

levels of measurement: nominal data

Answer 1

Shows categories of data represented by frequencies that have no relative numerical value ie boys and girls

Question 2

levels of measurement: ordinal data

Answer 2

Data can be placed in ascending or descending order but intervals between data not necessary equal ie times for first, second and third in race

Question 3

levels of measurement: interval data

Answer 3

Equal numerical intervals between data eg temperature

Question 4

levels of measurement: ratio data

Answer 4

Equal intervals between scores and has an absolute or true zero eg speed

Question 5

What are measures of central tendency?

Answer 5

• provide an average score from within the data set
• mean, median and mode

Question 6

What are measures of dispersion?

Answer 6

• provide insight into how spread data is
• lower dispersions imply more reliable data
• range and standard deviation

Question 7

Describe mode, including pros and cons

Answer 7

• most occurring value in a set of scores
• used for nominal data
  PRO: simple and unaffected by extreme data
  CON: unreliable with small data, lack sensitivity, can have multiple

Question 8

Explain the median and pros and cons

Answer 8

• value of middle score
• ordinal data
  PRO: easy to calculate, unaffected by extreme values, more representative than mode
  CON: lack sensitivity

Question 9

Qualitative data

Answer 9

Type of data that can be observed but not measured numerically. Usually takes form of words, feelings and thoughts and is difficult to analyse
- ie Ps feelings about school

Question 10

Quantitative data

Answer 10

Type of data that can be measured numerically by the psychologist so analysis can be completed eg scores on IQ test

Question 11

Evaluate quantitative data

Answer 11

• objective; it’s less susceptible to bias than qualitative data, which makes it easier to draw reliable and generalizable conclusions.
• lack depth and context - lose human side of behaviour

Question 12

Evaluate qualitative data

Answer 12

• in depth, increased validity
• difficult to analyse, inconvenient to collect, draw less conclusion

Question 13

Explain mean and pros and cons

Answer 13

• used for ordinal/interval data
  PRO: take all into consideration
  CON: affected by extreme values

Question 14

Range

Answer 14

• dispersion
• spread from highest to lowest, often used with median

Question 15

Standard deviation

Answer 15

• dispersion
• how far away raw score is from mean of its distribution