Statistical analysis

Question 1

What are descriptive statistics?

Answer 1

Mean, median, standard deviation

Question 2

What goes on the x-axis of a graph?

Answer 2

IV (groups/conditions)

Question 3

What goes on the y-axis of a graph?

Answer 3

measurement of DV, have to start from 0, tend to use the mean

Question 4

What are inferential statistics?

Answer 4

these stats are used to test the ‘statistical significance’ of the data

Question 5

What do you need to consider when picking an inferential statistic test?

Answer 5

research design used, number of levels of the IV, sample size

Question 6

What are the two types of inferential statistic tests?

Answer 6

Wilcoxon signed ranks and Mann Whitney U test

Question 7

When do you use a Wilcoxon signed ranks test?

Answer 7

• You have a repeated measures design
• You have used less than 30 participants in your sample
• You have just 2 levels of the IV

Question 8

When do you use a Mann Whitney U test?

Answer 8

• You are using an independent measures design
• You just have 2 levels of the IV
• You have less than 30 participants in your sample

Question 9

What do you write when reporting the statistics?

Answer 9

“On average, the participants appeared to [recall fewer words] in the [shallow] condition [Mdn=] than in the [deep] condition [Mdn=]. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that this difference was [statistically significant], T =, z =, p <.

Question 10

What is the cut off point for the probability so that if it is more than that you have to accept the null hypothesis?

Answer 10

0.05