Lecture 4 Flashcards
discrete = ?
finite set of values a variable can take on
how can data be described?
frequency tables
pie charts
bar charts
measures of central tendency encompasses…?
mean, median, mode
continuous variable = ?
can have infinite values
can take on any value within an interval
(e.g., any number between 0 and infinity)
levels of measurement for continuous = ?
interval or ratio
distribution = ?
collection of values of a particular variable
bin = ?
a rectangle in a histogram
what’s the difference between discrete & continuous distribution graphically?
continuous is a smooth curve, no gaps
discrete has noticeable gaps in between values
are discrete/continuous variables measured or counted?
discrete = counted
continuous = measured
frequency distribution = ?
a summary of a dataset, showing the frequency of items in several classes
objective is to provide insight
frequency distribution for qualitative data = ?
counting the number of times each value occurs
frequency distribution for quantitative data = ?
either counting or grouping values
symmetric frequency distribution = ?
in the case that a distribution is split into two identical halves
skewness frequency distribution = ?
assymetric distribution
kurtosis in a frequency distribution = ?
degree of peakedness or steepness in a distrubution
positively skewed = ?
hump is on the left side
negatively skewed = ?
hump is on the right side
steeply peaked = ?
sharp, high, middle curve
shape of the distribution influences…
all statistical descriptive measures
when a distribution is symmetrical…
the mean & median values are the same
when a distribution is skewed…
the equivalence disappears
what is more representative of a dataset in the case of a skewed distribution: mean or median?
median, not the mean
why is the median more representative in an assymetrical distribution?
outliers don’t skew median results, but they’d skew mean averages
mean = ?
AKA average or expected value