Lecture 6 - Inferential Statistics

Question 1

Inferential Statistics

Answer 1

Statistical tests that allow for inferences to be drawn from a set of data; delineate significant differences and relationships across data. These tests produce test statistics.

Question 2

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 2

Statistical models that organize data in a way so that it might be interpreted; cannot be supported or refuted nor can they be generalized.

Question 3

Test Statistic

Answer 3

Single numbers that can be used to judge the efficacy of the hypothesis; provides a ratio of good to bad fit (systematic variance/unsystematic variance).

Question 4

Null Hypothesis Statistic Testing

Answer 4

The process of calculating the probability of having produced our t-test score if our null hypothesis is true. If it is below the alpha level, it is statistically significant.

Question 5

Probability

Answer 5

An index of the degree of certainty regarding the occurrence of an event ranging from 0 to 1; number of events that satisfy the criterion/total number of events.

Question 6

Probability Distribution

Answer 6

A description of the possible test statistic values of a random variable, and of the probabilities of occurrence of these test statistic values.

Question 7

Alpha Level

Answer 7

A prespecified cutoff point used to judge whether a result (our t-test) is statistically significant or not; in psychology, p<0.05.

Question 8

Statistical Significance

Answer 8

Refers to the probability that an event or difference occurred by chance alone.