Test 1 Flashcards
Two types of observations are always discrete: __ variables and __ variables.
nominal, ordinal
Nominal variables are used for observations that have __ or __ as their values.
You can’t __.
ex: stats data
u__ categories; group m__
(ex: __ of cookie
categories, names
You can’t order
For example, when entering data into a statistical computer program, a researcher might code male participants with the number 1 and female participants with the number 2. In this case, the numbers only identify the gender category for each participant. They do not imply any other meaning
unordered, membership, type
Ordinal variables are used for observations that have __ (i.e., __,__,__) as their values.
You can __
examples:
(ex: __ of favorite cookie)
rankings
1st, 2nd, 3rd
order
top 3 favorite cookies, class rank, 3rd place in a race, hair length (short medium long)
ranking
Two types of observations can be continuous: __ variables and __ variables.
Continuous means it can have __ __.
interval, ratio
decimal points
Interval variables are used for observations that have __ as their values; the distance (or interval) between pairs of consecutive numbers is assumed to be __.
Interval variable have no __ __.
Ex:
numbers, equal
meaningful zero
Temperature in celsius, IQ score, RATING of cookie taste
A ratio variable is a variable that meets the criteria for an interval variable but also has a __ __point.
ex:
have a “true z__“-the a__ of what is being m__.
interval, meaningful zero
mass of cookie, minutes to finish homework
zero, absence, measured
A scale variable is a variable that meets the criteria for an __ variable or a __ variable.
interval, ratio
An independent variable has at least __ levels that we either m___ or o___ to determine its effects on the ___ variable.
two
manipulate, observe
dependent
The dependent variable is the o___ variable that we hypothesize to be related to or caused by changes in the __ variable.
outcome
independent
A confounding variable is any variable that __ varies with the __ variable so that we cannot logically determine which variable is at work; also called a confound.
systematically
independent
A reliable measure is __.
ex: bathroom scale
consistent
If you were to weigh yourself on your bathroom scale now, and then again in an hour, you would expect your weight to be almost exactly the same. If your weight, as shown on the scale, remains the same when you haven’t done anything to change it, then your bathroom scale is reliable
Descriptive statistics organize, summarize, and communicate a group of numerical observations. Descriptive statistics describe large amounts of data in a s__ n__ or in just a f__ n__.
ex: shark
single number, few numbers
National Geographic reported on their Web site that the average adult great white shark is 15 feet long, or 4.6 meters (2015). And that’s just the average. Some great white sharks grow to 20 feet, or 6 meters long! Most dorm rooms aren’t even that big. The average length of great white sharks is a descriptive statistic because it describes the lengths of many sharks in just one number
Inferential statistics use __ data to make estimates about the larger __.
use to generalize beyond our s__ to the p__; infer c__.
sample
population
sample, population, characteristics
Frequency tables are organization of number of times a __ has occurred.
List steps: 4 total
value
1) Find highest and lowest score
2) create 2 columns: variable and frequency
3) list full range of values (include zero frequency values)
4) count and list number of scores at each value
A __ __ describes the pattern of a set of numbers by displaying a count or proportion for each possible value of a variable.
frequency distribution
a __ ___ __ allows researchers to depict data visually by reporting the frequencies within a given interval rather than the frequencies for a specific value.
Use this if there are many __ __ or a __ range of data
grouped frequency table
decimal places
large
Steps to make a grouped frequency table:
1) find __ and __ scores.
2) get __ range of data.
- round numbers __, s__ to get the difference, and add _.
3) Take the given interval and __ the above number by the interval to get how many intervals to use (round __)
4) Make an i__ and f__ column
highest, lowest full down, subtract, 1 divide, up interval, frequency
A histogram is a graph that looks like a bar graph but depicts just __ variable, usually based on __ data, with the values of the variable on the _-__ (horizontal) and the frequencies on the _-__. (vertical)
(x is along the __, y is along the __)
one
scale
x-axis, y-axis
bottom, side
In a frequency polygon, a dot is placed __ each score or interval to indicate the frequency, and the dots are __.
above
connected
Stem and leaf plots allow for a __ and __ display of all data.
They allow you to regenerate __ data by looking.
You can see the __ of the data.
You can easily __ groups.
numerical, visual
raw
shape
compare
A normal distribution is a specific frequency distribution that is a __-shaped, s__, __ curve
bell-shaped, symmetric, unimodal
Skewed distributions are distributions in which one of the __ of the distribution is pulled away from the center.
tails
When the tail goes to the right, there is a __ skew.
May represent __ effects.
positive
floor
When the tail goes to the left, there is a __ skew.
May represent __ effects.
negative
ceiling
__ __, a situation in which a constraint prevents a variable from taking values below a certain point.
floor effect