Exam 1 Flashcards
Statistics is (broadly)
Plausible and Probabilistic
Two Branches of Stats
Descriptive and Inferential
Which branch organizes, summarizes, and communicates observations?
Descriptive Stats
Which branch uses sample data to make estimates about populations?
Inferential Stats
What is a Sample?
A set of observations drawn from a population (the taste test)
What is a Population?
ALL possible observations (the pot of sauce)
What is a Variable?
Observations of characteristics that take on (at least 2) different values
What is an Operational Definition?
It is what defines a variable in terms of a specific process or procedure needed to determine its existence (instructions that standardize measurement or manipulation)
Whole numbers, with no other values existing between them
Discrete Observations
Categorical Variables aka
Nominal Variables
No order, rank, or numerical value
Nominal Variables
Observations with rank
Ordinal Variables
Distance between ranking does not matter for
Ordinal Variables
Full range of values with infinite possibilities
Continuous Observations
Has measurements with meaningful numbers
Continuous Observations
Numbers as values with equal distance between consecutive numbers (zero is not “nothing”)
Interval Variables
Example of Interval Variable
Temperature
Example of Discrete Observation
Tater Tots
Example of Continuous Observation
Mashed Potatoes
Numbers as values with equal distance between consecutive numbers (zero is meaningful)
Ratio Variables/Scales
Example of Ratio Variable
How much of something
Experiments do what
Manipulate and Measure
The cause is the
Manipulation
The effect is the
Measurement