LESSON 1 (lecture) Flashcards
Why learn statistics?
Understanding statistics is crucial to ____________.
being able to read psychology research articles
Why learn statistics?
Understanding statistics is crucial to doing ___________.
doing research yourself
Why learn statistics?
Understanding statistics ______________.
< able to see misleading biases that company does to treats their customers >
develops your analytic and critical thinking
How to gain the most from this course? <5>
- keep your attention on the concepts
- be sure you know each concept before you go on to the next
- keep up
- study especially intensely in the first half of the course
- help each other
__________ is the science of data. This involves collecting, classifying, summarizing, organizing, analyzing, presenting, and interpreting numerical information.
Statistics
__________ include numerical facts and figures.
Statistics
- The largest earthquake measured 9.2 Richter scale.
- Men are at least 10 times more likely than women to commit murder.
- One in every 8 South Africans is HIV positive
- By the year 2020, there will be 15 people aged 65 and over for every new baby born.
are STATISTICS
- Statistics is Mathematics
- Statistics is a way of viewing reality as exists around us in a way that we otherwise could not.
are NOT STATISTICS
__________ is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. _________ are actively involved in studying and understanding mental processes, brain functions, and behavior.
- Psychology
- Psychologists
4 Goals in Psychology
- Describe
- Explain
- Predict
- Control
Application of statistics to achieve the goal of psychology
PSYCHSTATS
A ________ is the “set of individuals of interest” in a particular study.
< target of your research >
< a mean >
Population
A ________ is value, usually a numerical value, that “describes a population”. Usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the population.
< average score for the population >
< could be mean >
Parameters
A ______ is a “set of individuals selected from a population”, usually intended to represent the population in a research study.
Sample
A ______ is a value, usually a numerical value, that “describes a sample”. Usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the sample.
< could be mean >
Statistic (w/o s)
THE POPULATION (All of the individuals of interest) ~> the sample is selected from the population ~> THE SAMPLE (The individuals selected to participate in the research study) ~> The results from the sample are generalized to the population
Relationship between a POPULATION and a SAMPLE
A _______ is a characteristic or condition that changes or has different values for different individuals.
Variable
Possible number or category a value can have, i.e 1.00 - 5.00 or Male/Female
< it is a possible answer to the variable >
Values
_______ or _______ is a particular sample’s value on a variable.
SCORE or RAW SCORE
_______ (plural) are measurements or observations.
Data
_______ (singular) is a single measurement or observation and is commonly called a score or raw score.
Datum
A _______ is a collection of measurements or observations.
Data Set
________ are statistical procedures used to summarize, organize, and simplify data.
i.e informations in magazine or newspaper
Descriptive Statistics
_______ consist of techniques that allow us to study samples and then “make generalizations” about the populations from which they were selected.
i.e grades or percentile of scores
< statistical tool >
Inferential Statistics
_______ is the “naturally occurring discrepancy”, or error, that exists between a sample statistic and the corresponding population parameter.
Sampling Error
Types of Variables
- Discrete Variable
- Continuous Variable
A _______ consists of separate, “indivisible
categories”. No values can exist between two neighboring categories.
Discrete Variable
For a _______, there are an infinite number of possible values that fall between any two observed values. A ______ is “divisible into an infinite number” of fractional parts.
Continuous Variable
Scales of Measurement
- Nominal Scale
- Ordinal Scale
- Interval Scale
- Ratio Scale
Categorizes and labels variables.
< anything that is ‘word’ only >
Nominal
- Categorizes and labels variables
- ‘Ranks’ categories in order
< has ranking > < can arrange in all levels >
e.g. sizes of shirts ( s,m,l,xl)
Ordinal
- Categorizes and labels the variables
- Ranks categories in order
- Has known, equal intervals
< the gap is ‘fixed’ in diff category >
e.g. tall 50
venti 150
grande 200
Interval
- Categorizes and labels variables
- Ranks categories in order
- Has known, equal intervals
- Has a true or meaningful zero
< 0 has meaning, don’t have negative value >
Ratio
