Data Analysis Flashcards

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1
Q

What are primary sources

A

Information collected or observed first hand by the researcher specifically to meet the aim of their research.

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2
Q

What are secondary sources

A

Information in a study that was collected by someone else for a purpose other than the current study

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3
Q

Strengths of primary sources

A
  • rich in detail
  • good quality
  • meets aims of study
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4
Q

Weaknesses of primary sources

A

-Time and effort - researcher must collect data before analysis can happen
- more expensive due to more time/recourses
- design, collection and analysis needs to be done by researcher

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5
Q

Strengths of secondary sources

A
  • less time/ effort - no research needs to be done
  • cheaper
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6
Q

Weaknesses of secondary sources

A
  • data may not fit the exact aims of the study
  • poor quality data = poor quality conclusions
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7
Q

What is qualitative data

A

Non-numerical - info in words that cannot be quantified eg descriptions

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8
Q

What is quantitive data

A

Numerical data - behaviour is measured in numbers or quantities e.g how much/how long

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9
Q

Strengths of qualitative data

A

-provides detailed info
- greater insight into behaviour
- draw meaningful conclusions

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10
Q

Weaknesses of qualitative data

A
  • hard to draw simple conclusions/analyse
  • difficult to present graphically
  • bias as its open to interpretation - unscientific
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11
Q

What is the acronym for choosing a statistical test

A

I - independent groups
Really - related data
Could - correlation
Not - nominal
Calculate - chi-squared test
Sums - sign test
On - ordinal
Monday - Mann Whitney u
Without - Wilcoxon
Smiling - spearman’s rho

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12
Q

What is the probability used in psychology

A

0.05 - 5%

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13
Q

When may you need to use a smaller probability of 1%/0.01

A

Drug testing/sensitive impactful issues

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14
Q

If findings are significant what must you do ?

A

Accept the alternative hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis

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15
Q

If findings are non significant you must ?

A

Accept the null hypothesis and reject the alternative hypothesis

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16
Q

What are the two values you need to determine the significance

A

Observer and critical

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17
Q

All the types of graphical representation

A

Frequency table
Bar chart
Histogram
Line graph
Pie chart
Scatter diagram

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18
Q

What is normal distribution and features

A

Also known as bell shaped curve
Its features is the mean, median and mode are all at the exact mid point
The distribution is symmetrical around the midpoint

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19
Q

What is skewed distribution

A

Occurs where there are extreme scores in a data set

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20
Q

When do we get positively skewed data

A

There are a few extreme high scores which affects the mean
The mean is always higher than the median and mode in a positive skew

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21
Q

Where do we get a negative skew

A

If there was a very easy exam so most people get really high scores
So the mean is below the median and mode

22
Q

Step by step of standard deviation

A

1- calculate the mean of the data
2- subtract the mean from each raw score
3- square the scores from step 2
4- add them all together
5- divide this by the total number of raw scores divided by 1
6- square root final answer

23
Q

Strengths of the mean

A

Most sensitive measure of central tendency because it takes into account the exact distance between all the values of data

24
Q

Weaknesses of mean

A

Can easily be distorted by an extreme value
Can’t be used with nominal data
Does not make sense to use for small/discrete values

25
Q

Strengths of median

A

Not affected by extreme scores so more useful
Appropriate for ordinal data so easier to calculate

26
Q

Weaknesses of median

A

Not as sensitive as mean as the exact values aren’t represented

27
Q

Strengths of mode

A

Unaffected by extreme values
More useful for discrete data
Only method that can be used for nominal data

28
Q

Weaknesses of mode

A

Not useful way of describing data when there are several modes like in interval/ratio data

29
Q

Level of measurement - nominal data

A

Categories are only named e.g hair colour or names of people

30
Q

Level of measurement - ordinal data

A

Categories can be ordered/ranked e.g class or economic status (no clear interval between categories)

31
Q

Level of measurement - interval data

A

Distance is meaningful e.g temperature, PH, IQ

32
Q

Level of measurement - ratio

A

Absolute zero e.g years of work experience

33
Q

Way to remember positive and negative skew graphically

A

Left foot = negative skew
Right foot = positive skew

34
Q

Measures of dispersion - what is the range

A

Range is the difference between the top and bottom value of data - when you find the difference you must add 1

35
Q

Strengths of range

A

Identifies how spread out the data is as it accounts the first and last value

36
Q

Weaknesses of range

A

Is effected by extreme values - so may not accurately reflect
Does not take into account the distribution between numbers so we do not know if numbers are closely grouped around the mean or widely spread out

37
Q

What is standard deviation

A

Measures the spread of the set of data, in effect the average distance of each number from the mean

38
Q

Strengths of the standard deviation

A

Takes precise measures of dispersion allowing all values to be taken in to account - means we know whether values are closer grouped around the mean or spread out
Gives more accurate idea about how the data is distributed
Not as affected by extreme values

39
Q

Weaknesses of standard deviation

A

Doesn’t give you the full range of the data
Hard to calculate
Time consuming

40
Q

The role of the scientific community

A

Once a study has been carried out, a report will be written by the researcher - this report is then submitted to a research journal who may decide to publish it. The structure of these reports follow a pattern

41
Q

What is the abstract

A

Short passage at the start of the report hat gives an overview of p’s and procedures, results and conclusion
It is a snapshot of the important info of the study sp they don’t need to read the whole thing

42
Q

What is the introduction

A

Overview of previous research - should start B-roads then funnel to more specific to the study your conducting
Aims and hypothesis should lead on logically

43
Q

Method

A

Detailed description of what the researcher did
Should be detailed enough that someone could replicate it to check reliability
Should include design, p’s, apparatus, procedure and ethical considerations

44
Q

Results

A

Details about what the researcher found - can be qualitative or quantitative
Should be analysed both with descriptive and inferential statistics

45
Q

Discussion

A

What the researcher concludes - should compare findings with previous research
Identify methodological issues and how they can be overcome
Suggest avenues for future research

46
Q

References

A

Full titles and details of all journals/books/online texts used/referenced in the text
Very specific - title, age, page number etc

47
Q

Appendix

A

Info that supplements the text - info that is too distracting for the main body of text
E.g a 100 question questionnaire

48
Q

Acronym for the storages of a report

A

All - abstract
Introductions
Must - method
Reveal - results
Detailed - discussion
Relevant - references
Answers - appendix

49
Q

What is the process of peer review

A
  • scientists study something
  • they then write about their results
  • journal editors receives an article and sends it out for peer review
  • peer reviewers read the article and provide feedback
  • may accept, reject or send back with possible amendments to be then resubmitted
  • when it meets editorial and peer standards it is published in a journal
50
Q

What is the purpose of peer review

A

1- allocation of research funding ( research is paid for by govt. so reviews are required to enable them to decide which research is likely to be worthwhile
2-publication in research journals and books (prevents faulty data entering the public)
3- assessing the research rating of university departments (all unis science departments conduct research which is assessed in terms of qualifying for future funding for the department depends on the ratings at the peer review)

51
Q

Peer review evaluation - strengths

A

Published work is validated for accuracy/validity
Peers suggest improvement and allocate further funding
Any problems/areas of weakness/ suggestions for improvement are highlighted as necessary
Upholds the principles of science - prevents scientific fraud
Adds credibility to the research and the field of study

52
Q

Peer review evaluation - limitations

A
  • takes time (up to 180 days) delays publication
  • peers bring their own personal bias
  • its hard to find an expert in specific or new fields
  • conflict of interest
  • publication bias (publishing good/successful data)