Week 1 Flashcards
Define “statistics”
The mathematical method or discipline of collecting, organising, analysing, interpreting and presenting data.
Define “Population”
The group or set of individuals of interest.
Define “Sample”
A set of individuals selected from the population as representatives of that population.
Define “Data”
Measurements or observations.
Define “Statistic” (singular)
A piece of data obtained from a sample.
What is Descriptive statistics?
The organisation and presentation of data.
What is Inferential statistics?
Mathematical methods that allow inferences to be made about the population using sample statistics.
What is Descriptive research?
Research that aims to describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon, rather than offer causal description or explanation. No variables are manipulated or controlled.
What is Experimental research?
Research in which one variable is manipulated while another is observed for change.
What is Non-experimental research?
Research that lacks the manipulation and control of variables and the explanation of causal relationships, this includes Correlational research, Non-equivalent group studies and Pre-post studies.
What is Correlational research?
Research that is used to explore the statistical relationship between two or more variables, it does NOT provide causal links.
What is a Non-equivalent group study?
Studies where groups are not randomly selected, control and experimental groups are likely different due to the lack of random selection or assignment.
What is a Pre-post study?
A study in which data is recorded before and after an intervention is applied to a group.
Define “Variable”
An element or condition that is liable to variation or change.
Define “Dependent variable”
An unmanipulated variable that is measured for change in response to manipulation of an independent variable.
Define “Independent variable”
A variable that is manipulated by researchers whose variation does not depend on other variables.
What is a Discrete variable?
Variables that can categorised or put into countable values with meaningful intervals.
What is a Continuous variable?
Variables with an infinite number of values.
What are the two scales of measurement for variables?
Categorical measurement and Numerical measurement.
Explain Categorical measurements.
Categorical measurements are broken into two groups, Nominal, which labels groups that are not ordered in value, and Ordinal, which label AND order groups by value or chronology.
Explain numerical measurements.
Numerical measurements are the most accurate forms of variable measurement.
Interval, which are numbers used to label and order variables with consistent intervals in-between.
Ratio, which are numbers used to label and order variables with consistent intervals between numbers but 0 means an absence.
Define “Parameter”
A measured quantity that describes an aspect of a population.
Define “Construct”
An internal attribute or characteristic that cannot be directly observed.
Define “Operational definition”
A description of a variable in terms of the operations by which it could be measured.
