Chapter One

Question 1

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 1

Psychologists use descriptive statistics to summarise and describe a group of numbers from a research study. Purpose to make group of numbers easy to understand.

Question 2

Inferential Statistics

Answer 2

Psychologists use inferential statistics to draw conclusions and to make inferences that are based on the numbers from a research study but that go beyond the numbers. E.g. Allow researchers to make inferences about a large group of individuals based on a research study in which a much smaller number of individuals took part.

Question 3

Variable

Answer 3

Characteristic that can have different values. When measuring stress the level of stress is variable.

Question 4

Values

Answer 4

Possible number or category that a score can have. When measuring stress the level of stress (variable) can have VALUE of 0 to 10. Can also be a category.

Question 5

Score

Answer 5

Particular person’s value on the variable. When measuring stress the value of their answer is the score.

Question 6

Numeric Variable

Answer 6

Variable whose values are numbers (as opposed to nominal).

Question 7

Equal-interval variable

Answer 7

variable in which numbers stand for approx. equal amounts of what is being measured.

Question 8

Ratio scale

Answer 8

An equal-interval variable is measured on a ratio scale if it has an absolute zero point. Meaning the value of 0 on the variable indicates a complete absence of the variable

Question 9

Rank order variable

Answer 9

Numeric variable in which the values are ranks such as class standing or place finished in a race.

Question 10

Nominal variable

Answer 10

Variable with values that are categories.

Question 11

Levels of measurement

Answer 11

Types of underlying numerical information provided by a measure, such as equal interval, rank order and nominal

Question 12

Discrete Variable

Answer 12

Variable that has specific values and that cannot have values between these specific values

Question 13

Continuous variable

Answer 13

Variable for which in theory there are an infinite number of values between any two values

Question 14

Frequency Table

Answer 14

Ordered listing of number of individuals having each of the different values for a particular variable.

Question 15

Histograms

Answer 15

Barlike graph of a frequency distribution in which the values are plotted along the horizontal axis and the height of each bar is the frequency of that value; the bars are usually placed next to each other without spaces, giving the appearance of a city skyline.