Understanding Stats and Variables Flashcards
Why is studying statistics important?
Statistics help analyze data from various sources like social media, surveys, and targeted advertising to understand and predict human behavior.
What are some common symbols used in statistics?
X = variable, ∑ = summation, x ^2 = square, square root symbol= square root, +,−,×,÷,>,<,≥,≤,=,= for operations
What is the correct order of operations in calculations?
BEDMAS/PEDMAS:
Brackets (Parentheses)
Exponents
Division & Multiplication (left to right)
Addition & Subtraction (left to right)
What are descriptive statistics?
Descriptive statistics summarize and describe data using a few numbers, including univariate (one variable), bivariate (two variables), and multivariate (three or more variables) analysis
What are inferential statistics?
Inferential statistics generalize findings from a sample to a population and involve hypothesis testing to determine associations between variables.
What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?
Independent variable (IV): The causal factor.
Dependent variable (DV): The effect or outcome.
Example:
“People who attend church regularly are more likely to oppose abortion.”
IV: Church attendance
DV: Abortion stance
What is the difference between discrete and continuous variables?
Discrete: Cannot be subdivided (e.g., marital status, number of children).
Continuous: Can be subdivided infinitely (e.g., age, income).
What are the three levels of measurement (LoM)?
Nominal – Categories without order (e.g., gender, province).
Ordinal – Ranked categories without equal spacing (e.g., social class, race position).
Interval/Ratio – Numeric values with meaningful differences (e.g., income, temperature in Kelvin).
How can the same variable have different levels of measurement?
The response categories determine the LoM. For example:
Age as continuous: “23 years old” (interval/ratio)
Age as categorical: “18-25, 26-30, 31-40” (ordinal)
