Unit 1

Question 1

What is the definition of a population in research ?

Answer 1

A population includes all elements that share the characteristics being studied. This could be people, animals, institutions, cities and more.

Question 2

What is a sample in research?

Answer 2

A sample is a subset of the total number of elements (units of analysis) within a population.

Question 3

What are the two important characteristics of a representative sample?

Answer 3

A representative sample should have an appropriate size and be selected using proper sampling methods.

Question 4

What is simple random sampling ?

Answer 4

Simple random sampling is a method of sampling?

Question 5

What are the parameters in research?

Answer 5

Parameters are values that represent the quantitative properties of a population. They are usually represented by Greek letters.

Question 6

What are statistics in research?

Answer 6

Statistics are values representing quantitive properties of a sample. They usually are represented by Latin letters.

Question 7

Give 3 examples of statistics.

Answer 7

Percentages, scores and means

Question 8

What is the goal of descriptive statistics?

Answer 8

The goal of descriptive statistics is to summarize a set of information to interpret it and draw conclusions. It uses data from a sample.

Question 9

What is the goal of inferential statistics?

Answer 9

The goal of inferential statistics is to estimate, predict, or generalize conclusions based on probability calculations and sample data. It aims to estimate the unknown properties of the population using data collected from a sample. Examples include hypothesis testing and regression analysis.

Question 10

What is a variable in research?

Answer 10

A variable is a feature or aspect of the units of analysis that can change or vary between people, over time, or across situations.

Question 11

What is a constant in research?

Answer 11

A constant is a modality or value shared by all units of analysis. It is the opposite of a variable

Question 12

In research studies, hypotheses are defined in terms of at least two ______?

Answer 12

Hypotheses are defined in terms of at least two variables.

Question 13

What is an independent variable?

Answer 13

An independent variable, also known as an experimental variable or predictor variable, is the proposed cause in a study.

Question 14

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 14

An independent variable, also known as an experimental variable or predictor variable, is the proposed cause in a study.

Question 15

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 15

A dependent variable, also known as the result variable, is the proposed effect or outcome in a study.

Question 16

What are the different classifications of variables?

Answer 16

Variables can be qualitative, quasi-quantitative, or quantitative

Question 17

What is the difference between an interval scale and a ratio scale?

Answer 17

Both interval and ratio scales deal with quantitative variables where differences between values have meaning. However, a key difference is that a ratio scale has an absolute zero point, while an interval scale does not.

Question 18

Provide an example of a variable measured on a ratio scale.

Answer 18

Weight, income, and the unemployment rate are all examples of variables measured on a ratio scale.