chapter 2 Flashcards
primary and secondary data
primary data:
data collected through firsthand research for an intended purpose
Secondary data:
data obtained second hand through research conducted by another person for another purpose
qualitative data and quantitive data
Qualitative data:
data that describes characteristics and qualities
Quantitative data:
data that includes measurable values and quantities and can be compared on a numerical scale
Percentage change
a calculation of the degree of change in a value over time
measures of central tendancy, mean, median and mode
Measures of central tendency:
-a category of statistics that describes the central value of a set of data
Mean:
a statistic that is the average value of a set of data
median:
the middle value in an ordered set of data
mode:
the value that occurs most frequently within a set of data
measure of variability
Measures of variability:
a category of statistics that describe the distribution of data
Standard deviation:
a statistic that shows the spread of the data around the mean
tables
Tables are a way of organising data and/or summary statistics to clearly compare the results of different groups in a study.
-If data cannot be presented in one or two sentences, then a table should be used instead of explaining the data in the text of a report.
analysing the quality of data:
true value
the value, or range of values, that would be found if the quantity could be measured perfectly
analysing the quality of data:
accuracy
how close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity being measured
analysing the quality of data:
precision
how close a set of measurement values are to each other
analysing the quality of data:
repeatability
the closeness of the agreement between successive measurements of the same quantity, carried out under the same conditions
analysing the quality of data:
reproducibility
the closeness of the agreement between measurements of the same quantity, carried out under different conditions
analysing the quality of data:
replicability
giving the same answer to a scientific question when a different method is used and different data is obtained
analysing the quality of data:
validity
whether a measurement measures what
it is supposed to measure
analysing the quality of data:
internal validity
whether a study investigates what it sets out or claims to investigate
analysing the quality of data:
external validity
whether the results of research can be applied to similar individuals in a different setting
analysing the quality of data:
personal error
a mistake, miscalculation or observer error made when conducting research
analysing the quality of data:
systematic error
an error that causes readings to differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time a measurement is made
analysing the quality of data:
random error
an error that creates unpredictable variations in the measurement process and results in a spread of readings
analysing the quality of data:
uncertainty
-a lack of exact knowledge of the value being measured
CONTRADICTORY DATA- data that
appears incorrect
INCOMPLETE DATA - data that has
elements missing
OUTLIER- a value that lies a long way from other results
opinion, anecdote, evidence
Opinion:
a judgement that is not necessarily based on proof
Anecdote:
a short personal account of an event
Evidence:
a verified fact
conclusion
a statement about the findings of a study, which addresses the aim and hypothesis
limitations of conclusions
the faults or flaws in the design of an investigation that may limit the conclusions of that investigation
implications
Implications the impact a study might have on the population, relevant theory and future research
scienctific report:
a report outlining why and how some research was conducted, with an analysis of the findings
scientific report:
abstract
a section of a scientific report that is a concise summary of the whole
investigation
scientific report:
introduction section
a section of a scientific report or poster that
provides an overview of what the investigation is trying to achieve and why it is important
scientific report:
methodology section
a section of a scientific report or poster that
describes the participants, materials and procedures used in the study
scientific report:
results section
a section of a scientific report or poster that outlines the evidence and findings of the study
scientific report:
discussion section
a section of a scientific report or poster that analyses the findings and concludes the
research
scientific report:
References and acknowledgements section
a list of all the sources used in a scientific report or poster
