Lecture 1 - intro

Question 1

Define: Population

Answer 1

The set of all the individuals of interest in a particular study.

Question 2

Define: Sample

Answer 2

A set of individuals selected from a population, usually intended to represent the population in a research study.

Results from the sample are generalized to the population.

Question 3

Define: Variable

Answer 3

A characteristic or condition that changes or has different values for different individuals.

Question 4

Define: Data

Answer 4

Data (plural) are measurements or observations.

• A data set is a collection of measurements or observations.
• A datum (singular) is a single measurement or observation and is commonly called a score or raw score.

Question 5

Define: Parameter

Answer 5

A value, usually a numerical value, that describes a population. It is usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the population.

Question 6

Define: Statistic

Answer 6

A value, usually a numerical value, that describes a sample. It is usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the sample.

Question 7

Descriptive vs. Inferential Statistics?

Answer 7

Descriptive: statistical procedures used to summarize, organize, and simplify data.

Inferential: techniques that allow us to study samples and then makes generalizations about the populations from which they were selected.

Question 8

Define: Sampling Error

Answer 8

A naturally occurring discrepancy, or error, that exists between a sample statistic and the corresponding population parameter.

Question 9

What are the two intentions of conducting research studies?

Question 10

What are the two intentions of conducting research studies?

Answer 10

1. Describe individual variables as they exist naturally.
2. Examine relationships between two or more variables.

Question 11

What is the Correlational Method?

Answer 11

This observes two different variables to determine whether there is a relationship between them.

Question 12

When the data consist of numerical scores, the relationship between the two variables is usually measured and described using a statistic called a ______.

Answer 12

Correlation.

Question 13

If the measurement process simply classifies individuals into categories that do not correspond to numerical values, the ____________ is used.

Answer 13

Chi-Square Test.

Question 14

The values of one variables are used to ________ and the second variable is _______________ within each group.

Answer 14

1. define the groups.
2. measured to obtain scores.

Question 15

What is the Experimental Method?

Answer 15

The goal of this method is to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 16

What are the 2 Distinguishing Characteristics of the Experimental Method?

Answer 16

1. The researcher manipulates one variable by changing its value from one level to another.
2. The researcher must exercise control over the research situation to ensure that other, extraneous variables do not influence the relationship being examined.

Question 17

What are the 2 General Categories of Variables that Researchers must control in Experiment?

Answer 17

1. Participant Variables [age, gender, etc].
2. Environmental Variables [lighting, time, weather, etc].

Question 18

What are the 3 Methods Researchers use to Control Variables?

Answer 18

1. Random Assignment.
2. Matching.
3. Holding Constant.