Descriptive Stats/Research (wk 4)

Question 1

What three ways can you describe continuous data?

Answer 1

1. Distribution (unimodal, bimodal, multimodal, right or left skewed)
2. Measure its center (mean, median, mode)
3. Measure its spread (narrow or broad distribution)

Question 2

What type of graph do you draw to check the distribution of continuous variables?

Answer 2

Histogram

Question 3

T/F Normal distribution represents an important statistical concept because many data from biological, psychological and social phenomena follow this shape

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What is the most common value for central tendency of continuous data/?

Answer 4

Mean

Question 5

Which measure of center value for continuous data is the best for data with an outlier or data that is distributed skewed?

Answer 5

Median

Question 6

Which measure of center value for continuous data represents the highest bar in a histogram, but is often rarely reported?

Answer 6

Mode

Question 7

What is the relationship of Mean, Median, and Mode for data distributed symmetrical?

Answer 7

mean = median = mode

Question 8

What is the relationship of Mean, Median, and Mode for data distributed skewed to the right?

Answer 8

mode < median < mean

Question 9

What is the relationship of Mean, Median, and Mode for data distributed skewed to the left?

Answer 9

mean < median < mode

Question 10

What is the most common value for spread of the data around the mean?

Answer 10

SD

Question 11

What is the most common value for spread of the data around the median, though can be misleading in data with an outlier?

Answer 11

Range

Question 12

What measurement of Q3-Q1 measure better than range does for data with an outlier?

Answer 12

Interquartile Range (IQR)

Question 13

Ex: Range 8.8-15 with mean of 12.1 (normally distributed with SD = 1)
What is the approximate proportion of those whose calcium values are below 10.1?

Answer 13

2.5%

Question 14

For data normally distributed, the mean (SD) are reported. For data that is skewed, the ___ (___) are reported.

Answer 14

Median (IQR)

Question 15

For categorical data you find the ____, the numbers in each category and the ____, the percentage.

Answer 15

Frequency – numbers in each category

Proportion - precentage

Question 16

What type of research has variables that you can’t control, but whose results can provide the basis for further research?

Answer 16

Descriptive research

Question 17

WHy use descriptive research?

Answer 17

i. To define subject characteristics
ii. To measure data trends
iii. To validate existing conditions

Question 18

Disadvantages of descriptive research?

Answer 18

1. Response and non-response bias

2. Limited scope of WHAT with no info on WHY

Question 19

T/F Descriptive research is used to make predictions

Answer 19

False, correlational research is

Question 20

Type of descriptive study with the purpose that you present as complete a picture as possible about the characteristics and exposures of individual case

Answer 20

Case report study

Question 21

T/F Case report study provides sufficient control to allow for generalizations or conclusions about causality.

Answer 21

False, it does not provide, can only act as a catalyst for further study

Question 22

Type of descriptive study with the purpose to provide overall picture of group’s characteristics often using survey to collect the information.

Answer 22

Descriptive survey

Question 23

Type of descriptive study with the purpose to describe the of developmental change and the sequencing of behaviors in people over time

Answer 23

Development research

Question 24

Type of descriptive study with the purpose to describe typical or standard values for characteristics of a given population (specific age, gender, occupation, culture or disability)

Answer 24

Normative Study

Question 25

Type of descriptive study with the purpose to explore and understand human behavior that arises from a different philosophy than quantitative research designs

Answer 25

Qualitative Research

Question 26

What study is this example:

Composite measure of deterioration in upper extremity muscle strength for a patient with ALS

Answer 26

Developmental Research

Question 27

What study is this example:

The original report of a patient with unique dementia characteristics by Alzheimer in 1905

Answer 27

Case Report

Question 28

What study is this example:
Hager-Ross and Rosblad studied 530 boys and girls aged 4 through 16 and found that there was no difference in grip strength between the gender until age 10, after which the boys were significantly stronger than the girls

Answer 28

Normative Study

Question 29

What study is this example:

Jensen and coworkers used a survey to examine the nature and scope of pain in persons with neuromuscular disorders

Answer 29

Descriptive Survey