Data Analysis Flashcards
Give reasons why standard deviation is more useful than range when comparing variations
- not affected by outliers (anomalies)
- allows statistical tests to be calculated
Suggest why variables are controlled in an investigation
- observe effect of dependent variable alone to allow comparison
- control variables for validity
Suggest how to approximate highest and lowest value of a distribution given mean and standard deviation
mean plus/minus two times standard deviation
Suggest why control in drugs test is given existing treatment
unethical to give no treatment for (life threatening) health condition
Suggest what is given to a control group and why
- placebo given which similar to test in every way expect for having effect
- eliminate variables not due to treatment
Describe how scientists decide how many trials are appropriate
- test different numbers of trials
- select which ever gives best results in appropriate time / number of trials after which there is no change in sample collected
Gives reasons for carrying out repeats
- exclude anomalous results
- calculate more reliable mean
- allow statistics to be carried out
- check results are concordant
Factors to consider when drawing a conclusion on data
- standard deviation overlap
- whether statistic is calculated
- if statistic shows significant trend
- how highly significant trend is
- could other factors influence result
- will experimental model give same effects in reality
- compare conclusion to experiment
Evaluate mean as a measure of average
- takes into account all data so gives accurate representation
- distorted by outliers
Evaluate median as a measure of average
- less effected by outliers
- not suitable for small data sets with large variation
Evaluate mode as a measure of average
- unaffected by outliers
- may not give accurate representation of data set
- could be multiple or no mean
Tips for describing data
- increase/decrease
- gradually/ rapidly
- between ______ and _______
- highest/lowest at _______
- fluctuates/CONSIDERABLE variation which may be due to chance
- start and end same / different
- _______ higher/lower than _______ throughout
- follow similar pattern / describe pattern EXACTLY
- never say CHANGE - specify increase/decrease
- do not describe graph if asked what effect it shows (interpret!)
Describe how a statistical test would be used to find a significant correlation or difference (in means or frequencies)
- construct a null hypothesis
- carry out statistical test to calculate test statistic
- look up value in critical value table for p=0.05
- use figure to accept or reject null hypothesis (if test statistic is greater than critical value then reject null hypothesis)
CANNOT SAY USE CALCULATED VALUE TO ACCEPT/REJECT NULL HYPOTHESIS
Give a reason why student t test is the appropriate statistical test for this investigation
testing significant difference between TWO MEANS
Give a reason why Spearman’s rank is the appropriate statistical test for this investigation
testing significant correlation between two DIFFERENT CONTINUOUS variables