Statistical thinking Flashcards
Related to whether we say one variable is causing changes in the other variable, versus other
variables that may be related to these two variables.
Cause and effect
An interval of plausible values for a population parameter; the interval of values within the
margin of error of a statistic.
Confidence interval
The pattern of variation in data
Distribution
Related to whether the results from the sample can be generalized to a larger population.
Generalizability
A numerical result summarizing a population (e.g., mean, proportion).
Parameter
The expected amount of random variation in a statistic; often defined for 95% confidence level.
Margin of error
A larger collection of individuals that we would like to generalize our results to.
Population
The probability of observing a particular outcome in a sample, or more extreme, under a
conjecture about the larger population or process.
P-value
Using a probability-based method to select a subset of individuals for the sample from the
population.
Random sampling
A numerical result computed from a sample (e.g., mean, proportion).
Statistic
Using a probability-based method to divide a sample into treatment groups.
Random assignment
The collection of individuals on which we collect data.
Sample
A result is statistically significant if it is unlikely to arise by chance alone.
Statistical significance
