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27 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
statistics |
a set of mathematical procedures for organizing, summarizing and interpreting information |
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population |
the set of all the individuals of interest in a particular study |
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sample |
a set of individuals selected from a population, usually intended to represent the population in a research study |
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variable |
a characteristic or condition that changes or has different values for different individuals |
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parameter |
a value, usually a numeric value, that describes a population. A parameter is usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the population. |
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statistic |
a value, usually a numerical value, that describes a sample. A statistic is usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the sample |
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descriptive statistics |
statistical procedures used to summarize, organize, and simplify data |
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inferential statistics |
consist of techniques that allow us to study samples and then make generalizations about the populations from which they were selected |
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sampling error |
the discrepancy, or amount of error, that exists between a sample statistic and the corresponding population parameter |
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correlational method |
two different variables are observed to determine whether there is a relationship between them |
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matching |
a means of controlling variables by ensuring equivalent groups or equivalent environments |
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experimental method |
one variable is manipulated while another variable is observed and measured. To establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the two variables, an experiment attempts to control all other variables to prevent them from influencing the results |
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control condition |
individuals in this condition do not receive the experimental treatment. Instead, they either receive no treatment or they receive a neutral, placebo treatment. The purpose of a control condition is to provide a baseline for comparison with an experimental condition |
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quasi-independent variable |
in a nonexperimental study, the "independent variable" that is used to create the different groups of scores |
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constructs |
internal attributes or characteristics that cannot be directly observed but are useful for describing and observing behavior |
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operational definition |
identifies a measurement procedure (a set of operations) for measuring an external behavior and uses the resulting measurements as a definition and a measurement of a hypothetical construct. Two components: 1) describes a set of operations measuring a construct 2) defines the construct in terms of the resulting measurements |
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discrete variable |
consists of separate, indivisible categories. no values can exist between two neighboring categories |
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continuous variable |
there are an infinite number of possible values that fall between two observed values. a continuous variable is divisible into an infinite number of fractional parts |
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real limits |
the boundaries of intervals for scores that are represented on a continuous number line. the real limit separating two adjacent scores is located exactly halfway between the scores; upper and lower real limit |
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nominal scale |
consists of a set of categories that have different names. measurements on a nominal scale label and categorize observations, but do not make any quantitative distinctions between observations |
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ordinal scale |
consists of a set of categories that are organized in an ordered sequence. measurements on an ordinal scale rank observations in terms of size or magnitude |
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interval scale and ratio scale |
both consist of a series of ordered categories with the additional requirement that the categories form a series of interval that are all exactly the same size internal scale has an arbitrary zero point (like temperature) ratio scale does not, has a zero value representing none |
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reliability |
a measure of consistency several measures: test-retest reliability, interrater reliability, and internalconsistency. |
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validity |
the measure is conceptually legitimate. Does the test measure what it purports tomeasure? |
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Chi square test for independence |
a procedure that is used to assess the relationship between two dichotomous variables |
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Dichotomous variables |
have only 2 possible values, e.g., ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’ |
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necessities for cause/effect relationship |
In order to claim a cause andeffect relationship you must have: •Manipulationof the independent variable•Controlof the research situation via: •Randomassignment, Matching, Holdinga variable constant |