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.
CH 1-3
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.
CH 1-3
Census
The collection of data from every member of the population.
CH 1-3
Sample
A subcollection of members selected from a population.
CH 1-3
Collection of sample data
Sample data must be collected in an appropriate way, such as through a process of random selection.
CH 1-3
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.
CH 1-3
Statistical thinking - factors
- Context of the data
- Source of the data
- Sampling method
- Conclusions
- Practical implications
CH 1-3
Practical implications
Statistical significance vs. practical significance
CH 1-3
Parameter
A numerical measurement describing some characteristic of a population.
CH 1-3
Statistic
A numerical measurement describing some characteristic of a sample.
CH 1-3
Quantitative (numerical) data
Numbers representing counts or measurements.
CH 1-3
Categorical (qualitative, attribute) data
Names or labels that are not numbers representing counts or measurements.
CH 1-3
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.)
CH 1-3
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.
CH 1-3
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).
CH 1-3
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.
CH 1-3
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).
CH 1-3
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.
CH 1-3
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.
CH 1-3
Correlation
A statistical association between two variables.
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Causality
The dependence of one variable upon another.
CH 1-3
Correlation caveat
Correlation does not imply causality.
CH 1-3
Observational study
Subjects are observed and specific characteristics are measured, but there is no attempt to modify the subjects being studied.