Statistics 'vocab'

Question 1

Population

Answer 1

The complete group of individuals that are the subject of a statistical study

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

A smaller group of the population that is intended to represent what the whole population is like

Question 3

Sample frame

Answer 3

A list of all those within a population that can be sampled

Question 4

Explanatory variable

Answer 4

The variable that you are in control of. It is what affects the response variable.

Question 5

Response variable

Answer 5

The subject of an experiment/study. It is measured because it changes as the explanatory variable changes.

Question 6

Extraneous variable

Answer 6

Any other variable apart from the explanatory variable that may influence the response variable. It is not in the interest of the experiment/study.

Question 7

Independent variable

Answer 7

The causation of any change to the response/dependant variable. Also called explanatory variable.

Question 8

Dependant variable

Answer 8

The result of any change to the independent/explanatory variable. Also called the response variable.

Question 9

Control group

Answer 9

A selection of people from a sample who don’t receive any special treatment
For example, in drug trials they receive a placebo instead of the real drug.
Their results are compared to the group who have had the special treatment to prove something in an experiment.

Question 10

Placebo

Answer 10

Something that looks like the real thing but has no effect on the person

Question 11

Reliability

Answer 11

The extent to which repeating the experiment will get you similar results

Question 12

Validity

Answer 12

The extent to which the experiment measures what it is supposed to measure