Fundamental Research Concepts

Question 1

Nominal scale

Answer 1

discrete, no quantitative meaning

example: gender

Question 2

Ordinal scale

Answer 2

ordering - quantifiable, discrete values that can be ordered, but intervals assumed unequal

example: Likert scale

Question 3

Interval scale

Answer 3

quantifiable, intervals assumed to be equal, zero point does not mean absence of value

example: temperature

Question 4

Ratio scale

Answer 4

quantifiable, intervals assumed equal, true absolute zero point, can be expressed as multiples and fractions

example: length

Question 5

Parametric versus non-parametric data

Answer 5

parametric = interval or ratio scale or normally distributed

non-parametric = nominal or ordinal scale or non-normal distribution

Question 6

Descriptive versus Inferential stats

Answer 6

descriptive = “How does the data look like?”, summarize the data collected from a sample of participants

inferential = “What are the relationships?”, allow to draw conclusions about study data (a sample) that can be applied to the wider population

Question 7

In terms of robustness to outliers, is the mean or the median a better measure?

Answer 7

Median