Vocab Exam 1

Question 1

Population

Answer 1

The entirety of data points that is of interest

Question 2

Parameter

Answer 2

The true value of the population of interest. This can be the mean, variance, proportion, etc.

Question 3

Estimate

Answer 3

The process of inferring the underlying value of interest from incomplete data

Question 4

Sampling Error

Answer 4

The chance difference in the sample’s estimate of the population’s parameter, which results from not sampling the entire population

Question 5

Bias

Answer 5

Systemic deviation between a sample and its population that results in a directional difference in a sample’s estimate of a population’s parameter

Question 6

Accuracy

Answer 6

How close the estimate is to the true population parameter

Question 7

Precision

Answer 7

The spread or variability between sample estimates

Question 8

Random sampling

Answer 8

Samples that fulfill the following two criteria:
1. Every data point has an equal probability of being included in the sample
2. Selection of data points is independent

Question 9

Convenience sample

Answer 9

The sample is based on individuals easily available to the researcher

Question 10

Volunteer bias

Answer 10

Arises form systemic difference between individuals who volunteer and the population of interest

Question 11

Frequency distribution

Answer 11

The number of times each value occurs in your sample

Question 12

Population distribution

Answer 12

The probabilities associated with each outcome across the entire population

Question 13

Discrete distribution

Answer 13

Only certain values are possible (e.g. number of children, shoe size, wins at March Madness)

Question 14

Continuous distribution

Answer 14

Any value is (theoretically) possible (e.g. height, time to complete an exam, amount of rainfall)