Chapter 17

Question 1

Cases

Answer 1

(units of analysis) information the rows represent

Question 2

Data

Answer 2

information that must be prepared for analysis, analyzed, and interpreted

Question 3

Central Tendency

Answer 3

We would like to find a single value that is in some sense the most typical or representative of all the observed values.

Question 4

Codebook

Answer 4

a record that is essential to guarantee that in the future the coded data can be interpreted.

Question 5

Command Files (Syntax Files)

Answer 5

During this era, the user wrote programs in the language of the software being used that were executed by the computer. These programs are referred to as command files, or in the case of SPSS, syntax files. When properly written, command files produce output.

Question 6

Data Analysis

Answer 6

Researchers arrange and portray the data in ways that help detect patterns or problems, explore associations that exist in the data, and generally see if the data are consistent with their hypotheses and theories.

Question 7

Data Management

Answer 7

activities concerned with preparing data for analysis are collectively referred to as data management.

Question 8

Data Matrix

Answer 8

a configuration of students and information about them. (see pg.425 for more info)

Question 9

Data Set

Answer 9

set of information that is collected in a study

Question 10

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 10

Numbers that describe the difference characteristics of a distribution of scores on a variable

Question 11

Disadvantage of Mean

Answer 11

It is relatively less robust than the median, that is, the mean is affected more than the median by relatively extreme values, or outliers, in a distribution of data.

Question 12

Ecological Fallacy

Answer 12

It is inappropriate to assume, on the basis of these group-level data, that the individuals within the counties necessarily behave in a way that is analogous to the way their counties behave.

Question 13

Errors of Generalization

Answer 13

often occur when the unit of analysis is not at the same level as the unit to which we seek to generalize

Question 14

Frequency Distribution

Answer 14

“The 3rd column of Table X adds up the frequencies as we proceed from the lowest to the highest values; the last number in this column must be the total number of states from which we have data. When the data are sorted, counted, and displayed in this way, the result is a frequency distribution”

Question 15

Output

Answer 15

reviews the commands that were executed, and flags any programming errors or inconsistencies, and most importantly, includes the results from execution of the requested analysis

Question 16

Robust

Answer 16

(the mean is relatively less robust than the median) aka the mean is affected more than the median by relatively extreme values, or outliers, in a distribution of data

Question 17

Skewness

Answer 17

whether or not a distribution has an especially long tail in one direction or another

Question 18

Statistically Independent

Answer 18

the data from one case should not influence or have been influenced by the data from another case.

Question 19

Stem & Leaf Diagram

Answer 19

p.441 for visual and more info

Question 20

System File

Answer 20

taking data and converting them to a file on which the program can operate and print the results

Question 21

Units of Analysis (Cases)

Answer 21

The rows represent the units of analysis, which in this instance are individuals whom we have interviewed.

Question 22

Variance

Answer 22

the statistic we compute to estimate the variability of data around the mean