Unit 3 Terminology Flashcards
Bias
When a study systematically favors certain outcomes
Blinding
Refers to subjects not knowing which treatment they are receiving
Block Design
An experimental design where subjects are divided into representative groups to bring certain differences into the picture and reduce variation and randomization then takes place within each block (blocking by gender, age, or race)
Census
An attempt to include the entire population
Cluster sample
Involves dividing the population into heterogeneous groups called clusters and then picking everyone in a random sample of the clusters
Completely randomized design
An experimental design in which everyone has an equal chance of receiving any treatment
Confounding
When there is uncertainty as to which variable is causing an effect
Control group
A group given no treatment or a sham treatment
Double-blinding
Refers to subjects and those evaluating their responses not knowing who received which treatments
Experimental study
Involves applying to a treatment to one or more groups and observing the responses
Nonresponse bias
When a large fraction of those sampled do not respond
Observational study
Researchers merely observe (no treatments applied)
Parameter
A numerical measurement describing some characteristics of the population
Placebo
A dummy or sham treatment such as a sugar pill
Population
The entire set of items, events, people, objects, and so on that are of interest
