elementary statistics vocabulary CH 1-3 Flashcards
CH 1-3
Data
Collections of observations (such as measurements, genders, survey responses).
CH 1-3
Statistics
The science of planning studies and experiments, obtaining data, and then organizing, summarizing, presenting, analyzing, interpreting, and drawing conclusions based on the data.
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Population
The complete collection of all individuals (scores, people, measurements, and so on) to be studied. The collection is complete in the sense that it includes all of the individuals to be studied.
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Census
The collection of data from every member of the population.
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Sample
A subcollection of members selected from a population.
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Collection of sample data
Sample data must be collected in an appropriate way, such as through a process of random selection.
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Inappropriate collection of sample data
If sample data are not collected in an appropriate way, the data may be so completely useless that no amount of statistical torturing can salvage them.
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Statistical thinking - factors
- Context of the data
- Source of the data
- Sampling method
- Conclusions
- Practical implications
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Practical implications
Statistical significance vs. practical significance
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Parameter
A numerical measurement describing some characteristic of a population.
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Statistic
A numerical measurement describing some characteristic of a sample.
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Quantitative (numerical) data
Numbers representing counts or measurements.
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Categorical (qualitative, attribute) data
Names or labels that are not numbers representing counts or measurements.
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Discrete data
Result when the number of possible values is either a finite number or a “countable” number. (That is, the number of possible values is 0 or 1 or 2, and so on.)
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Continuous (numerical) data
Result from infinitely many possible values that correspond to some continuous scale that covers a range of values without gaps, interruptions, or jumps.
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Nominal level of measurement
Is characterized by data that consist of names, labels, or categories only. The data cannot be arranged in an ordering scheme (such as low to high).
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Ordinal level of measurement
Data can be arranged in some order, but differences (obtained by subtraction) between data values either cannot be determined or are meaningless.
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Interval level of measurement
Is like the ordinal level, with the additional property that the difference between any two data values is meaningful. However, data at this level do not have a natural zero staring point (where none of the quantity is present).
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Ratio level of measurement
The interval level with the additional property that there is also a natural zero starting point (where zero indicates that none of the quantity is present). For values at this level, differences and ratios are both meaningful.
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Voluntary response sample (self-selected sample)
One in which the respondents themselves decide whether to be included.
Cannot be used for making conclusions about a population.
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Correlation
A statistical association between two variables.
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Causality
The dependence of one variable upon another.
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Correlation caveat
Correlation does not imply causality.
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Observational study
Subjects are observed and specific characteristics are measured, but there is no attempt to modify the subjects being studied.
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Experiment
Some treatment is applied to the subjects (experimental units), and its effects upon them are observed.
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Experimental units
The subjects of an experiment.
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Simple random sample
A sample of n subjects is selected in such a way that every possible sample of the same size n has the same chance of being chosen.
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Random sample
Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. Computers are often used to generate random samples.
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Probability sample
Involves selecting members of a population in such a way that each member of the population has a known (but not necessarily the same) chance of being selected.
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Systematic sample
Select some starting point, then select every kth (such as every 50th) element in the population.
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Convenience sampling
Use results that are easy to get.
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Stratified sampling
Subdivide the population into at least two different subgroups (or strata) so that subjects within the same subgroup share the same characteristics (such as gender or age bracket), then draw a sample from each subgroup.
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Cluster sampling
Divide the population into sections (or clusters), then randomly select some of those clusters, and then choose all members from those selected clusters.
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Multistage sampling
Uses come combination of the basic sampling mathods.
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Multistage sample design
Pollsters select a sample in different stages, and each stage might use different sampling methods.
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Cross-sectional study
Data are observed, measured, and collected at one point in time.
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Retrospective (case-control) study
Data are collected from the past by going back in time (through examination of records, interviews, and so on).
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Prospective (longitudinal, cohort) study
Data are collected in the future from groups sharing common factors (called cohorts).
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Cohort
A group sharing common factors.
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Randomization
The assigning of subjects to different groups through a process of random selection.
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Replication
The repetition of an experiment on more than one subject.
Alternately, replication refers to the repetition or duplication of an experiment so that results can be confirmed or verified.
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Blinding
A technique in which the subject doesn’t know whether he or she is receiving a treatment or a placebo.
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Placebo effect
Occurs when an untreated subject reports an improvement in symptoms.
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Double-blind
Blinding occurs at two levels: (1) the subject doesn’t know whether he or she is receiving the treatment or a placebo, and (2) the dispenser of the treatment doesn’t know either.
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Confounding
Occurs in an experiment when the experimenter cannot distinguish among the effects of various factors.
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Completely randomized experimental design
Assign subjects to different treatment groups through a process of random selection.
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Randomized block design
If testing one or more different treatments with different blocks:
(1) Form blocks (or groups) of subjects with similar characteristics.
(2) Randomly assign treatments to the subjects within each block.
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Block
A group of subjects that are similar, but where the groups differ in ways that might affect the outcome of the experiment.