Chapter 12

Question 0

Central Tendency

Answer 0

A single number or value that describes the typical or central score among a set of scores.

Question 1

Bar Graph

Answer 1

A visual presentation that uses bars to depict frequencies of responses, percentages, or means in two or more groups.

Question 2

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 2

An index of how strongly two variables are related to each other.
-1.0 to 1.0

Question 3

Criterion variable

Answer 3

The variable/score that is predicted based upon an individuals score on another variable ( the predictor variable). Conceptually similar to a dependent variable.

Question 4

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 4

Statistical measures that describe the results of a study; descriptive statistics include measures of central tendency (e.g., mean), variablility (e.g., standard deviation), and correlation (e.g., Pearson r).

Question 5

Effect Size

Answer 5

THe extent to which two variables are associated. In experimental research, the magnitude of the impact of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

Question 6

Frequency distribution

Answer 6

An arrangement of a set of scores from lowest to highest that indicates that indicates the number of times each score was obtained.

Question 7

Frequency Polygons

Answer 7

A graphic display of a frequency distribution in which the frequency of each score is plotted on the vertical axis, with the plotted points connected by straight lines.

Question 8

Histogram

Answer 8

Graphic representation of a frequency distribution using bars to represent each score or group score.

Question 9

Interval scales

Answer 9

A scale of measurements in which the intervals between numbers on the scale are all equal in sizes.

Question 10

Mean

Answer 10

A measure of central tendency, obtained by summing scores and then dividing the sum by the number of scores.

Question 11

Median

Answer 11

A measure of central tendency; the middle score in a distribution of scores that divides the distribution in half.

Question 12

Mode

Answer 12

A measure of central tendency; the most frequent score in a distribution score.

Question 13

Multiple Correlation

Answer 13

A correlation between one variable and a combined set of predictor variables.

Question 14

Nominal Scales

Answer 14

A scale of measurement with two or more categories that have no numerical (less than, greater than) properties.

Question 15

Ordinal Scales

Answer 15

A scale of measurement in which the measurement categories form a rank order along a continuum.

Question 16

Partial Correlation

Answer 16

The correlation between two variables with the influence of a third variable statistically controlled for.

Question 17

Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient

Answer 17

A type of correlation coefficient used with interval and ration scale data. In addition to providing information on the strength of relationship between two variables, it indicates the direction (positive or negative) of the relationship.

Question 18

Pie chart

Answer 18

Graphic display of data in which frequencies or percentages are represented as “slices” of pie.

Question 19

Predictor Variable

Answer 19

A variable that is used to make a prediction of an individuals score on another variable (the criterion variable). Conceptually similar to an independent variable.

Question 20

Range

Answer 20

The difference between he highest score and the lowest score.

Question 21

Ratio Scales

Answer 21

A scale of measurement in which there is an absolute zero point, indicating an absence of the variable being measured. An implication is that ratios of numbers on the scale can be formed (generally, these are physical measures such as weight or timed measures such as duration or reaction time).

Question 22

Regression equations

Answer 22

A mathematical equation that allows prediction of one behavior when the score on another variable is known.

Question 23

Restriction of range

Answer 23

A problem when scores on a variable are limited to a small subset of their possible values; this makes it more difficult to identify relationships of the variable to other variables of interest.

Question 24

Scatter plot

Answer 24

Graphic representation of each individuals scores on two variables. The score on the first variable is found on the horizontal axis and score on the second variable is found on the vertical axis.

Question 25

Standard deviation

Answer 25

The average deviation of scores from the mean (the square root of the variance).

Question 26

Structural equation modeling

Answer 26

Statistical techniques that are used to evaluate a proposed set of relationships among variables.

Question 27

Variablility

Answer 27

The amount of dispersion of scores about some center value.

Question 28

Variance

Answer 28

A measure of the variability of scores about a mean; the mean of the sum of squared deviations of scores from the group mean.