Ch. 1 Intro to Stats

Question 1

statistics

Answer 1

a set of mathematical procedures for organizing, summarizing, and interpreting information

Question 2

population

Answer 2

the set of all the individuals of interest in a particular study

Question 3

sample

Answer 3

a set of individuals selected from a population, usually intended to represent the population in a research study

Question 4

variable

Answer 4

a characteristic or condition that changes or has different values for diff. individuals

Question 5

data

Answer 5

(plural) measurements or observations

Question 6

data set

Answer 6

a collection of measurements or observations

Question 7

datum

Answer 7

(singular) a single measurement or observation

aka score or raw score

Question 8

parameter

Answer 8

a value (numerical) that describes a population
- derived de measurements of the individuals in the population

Question 9

statistic

Answer 9

a value, usually a numerical value, that describes a sample

- derived de measurements of the individuals in the sample

Question 10

descriptive statistics

Answer 10

statistical procedures used to summarize, organize y simplify data

Question 11

inferential statistics

Answer 11

techniques that allow us to study samples

- make generalizations about the populations from which they were selected

Question 12

sampling error

Answer 12

naturally occurring discrepancy (error) that exists btwn a sample statistic y the corresponding population parameter

aka margin of error

Question 13

correlational method

Answer 13

2 different variables are observed to determine whether there is a relationship btwn them

Question 14

characteristics of an experimental method

Answer 14

(1) manipulation

(2) control

Question 15

general categories of variables to consider

Answer 15

(1) participant variables

(2) environmental variables

Question 16

random assignment

Answer 16

each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to each of the treatment conditions

goal: distribute participant characteristics evenly btwn the 2 groups

Question 17

experimental method

Answer 17

manipulation of one variable while another variable is observed y measured
- establish cause y effect relationship

Question 18

independent variable

Answer 18

manipulated variable

Question 19

dependent variable

Answer 19

observed variable

Question 20

control condition

Answer 20

group that does not receive experimental treatment

• placebo or no treatment
• creates baseline

Question 21

experimental condition

Answer 21

group that receives experimental treatment

Question 22

quasi-independent variable

Answer 22

the “independent variable” used to create the diff. groups of scores

Question 23

constructs

Answer 23

internal attributes or characteristics that cannot be directly observed but are useful for describing y explaining behavior

Question 24

operational definition

Answer 24

IDs a measurement procedure for measuring an external behav

- use results as definition y measurement of hypothetical construct

Question 25

discrete variable

Answer 25

consists of separate, indivisible categories

- no values exist btwn 2 neighboring categories

Question 26

continuous variable

Answer 26

an infinite number of possible values that fall btwn any 2 observed values
- divisible into an infinite number of fractional parts

Question 27

real limits

Answer 27

boundaries of intervals for scores that are represented on a continuous number line
- separates adjacent scores

Question 28

upper real limit

Answer 28

at top of interval

Question 29

lower real limit

Answer 29

at bottom of interval

Question 30

nominal scale

Answer 30

a set of categories that have different names
- do not make any quantitative distinctions btwn observations

(ie) classifying people by race, gender, or occupation

Question 31

ordinal scale

Answer 31

a set of categories that are organized in an ordered sequence
- rank observations in terms of size or magnitude

Question 32

interval scale

Answer 32

ordered categories that are all intervals of exactly the same size

Question 33

ratio scale

Answer 33

an interval scale w/ the additional feature of an absolute zero point
- ratios of numbers do not reflect ratios of magnitude