Statistics Terms Flashcards
statistics
study of methods for collecting, summarizing, analyzing, and interpreting data
population
complete collection of all individuals of elements under consideration in statistical study
census
collection of data regarding an entire population
sample
subject of selected elements from population
parameter
numerical summarization about a population
qualitative variable
takes on categories that cannot be averaged (blood type, color, race, name, eye color, zip code)
quantitative data
takes on numerical values to represent a measurement
Discrete data
entries are countable (number of eggs a chicken lays)
continuous data
entries can be continued on a scale
explanatory variable
values generally controllable by experimenter
response variable
causation
levels of some explanatory variables are certain to cause level of response variable to carry characteristics
correlation
suggests that levels of some explanatory variables tend to observe a level of response variable to carry characteristics
does correlation imply causation
NO
observational study
researchers observe characteristics and take measurements as it exists in the world. casual relationships not proven