Chapter 1- Introduction

Question 0

Define:

Population

Answer 0

The set of all the individuals of interest in a particular study(often quite large)

Question 1

Define:

Statistics

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Define:

Sample

Answer 2

A set of individuals selected from a population to participate in the research study

Question 3

Define:

Variable

Answer 3

A characteristic or condition that changes or has different values for different individuals

Question 4

Define:

Data( plural)

Answer 4

Measurements or observations of a variable

Question 5

Define:

Data Set

Answer 5

A collection of measurements or observations

Question 6

Define:

Datum(singular)

Answer 6

A single measurement or observation and is commonly called a score or raw score

Question 7

Define:

Parameter

Answer 7

A value, usually a numerical value, that describes a population

Question 8

Define:

Statistics

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Define:

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 9

Statistical procedures used to summarize, organize, and simplify data

Question 10

Define:

Inferential Statistics

Answer 10

Techniques that allow us to study samples and then make generalizations about the populations

Question 11

Define:

Sampling Error

Answer 11

The amount of error that exists between a sample statistic and the corresponding population parameter

Question 12

Define:

Correlational Method

Answer 12

When two variables are observed to determine whether there is a relationship between them

Question 13

Define:

Experimental Method

Answer 13

A method where one variable is manipulated, while another variable is observed and measured

Question 14

What is the goal of experimental research?

Answer 14

To demonstrate cause and effect relationships

Question 15

Define:

Manipulation

Answer 15

One variable that is changed by the researcher by changing its value from one level to another

Question 16

Define:

Control

Answer 16

Variables that experience no change by the researcher

Question 17

What are the “Methods of Control?”

Answer 17

1. Random assignment of subjects
2. Matching subjects
3. Holding level of some potentially influential variables constant

Question 18

What are the control conditions?

Answer 18

1. Individuals do not receive experimental treatment
2. They receive a neutral placebo treatment
3. They receive no treatment

Question 19

Define:

Random Assignment

Answer 19

Each participant has an equal opportunity to be assigned to either treatment group

Question 20

Define:

Confounding Variable

Answer 20

Any variable that is outside the experimenters control that influence the outcome

Question 21

Define:

Independent Variable

Answer 21

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher

Question 22

Define:

Dependent Variable

Answer 22

The one that is observed in order to assess the effect of the treatment

Question 23

What is an experimental condition?

Answer 23

Individuals do receive the experimental condition

Question 24

Define:

Nonequivalent Group

Answer 24

A study that involves comparing two groups of scores and the researcher has no ability to control which participants go into which group

Question 25

What is a pre-post test?

Answer 25

Individuals are measured before and after the test

Question 26

Define:

Quasi-Independent Variable

Answer 26

The “independent variable,” in a non-experimental study, that is used to create the different groups of scores

Question 27

Define:

Constructs

Answer 27

Internal attributes or characteristics that cannot be directly observed but are useful for describing and explaining behavior

Question 28

Define:

Operational Definition

Answer 28

Measuring an external behavior and uses the resulting measurements as a definition and a measurement of a hypothetical construct

Question 29

Define:

Discrete Variable

Answer 29

Consists of separate, indivisible categories; no values can exist between two neighboring categories

Question 30

Define:

Continuous Variable

Answer 30

There are an infinite number of possible that fall between any two variables
Ex: 18 18.5 19

Question 31

Define:

Real Limits

Answer 31

The boundaries of intervals for scores that are represented on a continuous number line; positioned exactly halfway between adjacent numbers

Question 32

Define:

Upper Real Limits

Answer 32

Is at the top of the interval

Ex: X= 31.1 Upper real limit: 31.15

Question 33

Define:

Lower Real Limits

Answer 33

Is at the bottom of the interval

Ex: X= 31.1 Lower real limit= 31.05

Question 34

Define:

Nominal Scale

Answer 34

Label and categorizes observations, but do not make any quantitative distinctions between observations
Ex: gender; room numbers

Question 35

Define:

Ordinal Scale

Answer 35

A set of categories that are organized in an ordered sequence
Ex: rank in class; clothing sizes

Question 36

Define:

Interval Scale

Answer 36

Ordered categories that are all intervals of exactly the same size
Ex: temperature; IQ

Question 37

Define:

Ratio Scale

Answer 37

An interval scale with the additional feature of an absolute zero point
Ex: number of correct answers

Question 38

Define:

“N”

Answer 38

The number of scores in a population

Question 39

Define:

“n”

Answer 39

The number of scores in a sample