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Flashcards in Part 1 Deck (37)
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1
Q

What is Statistics?

A

Statistics is the science of collecting, organising, summarising and analysing data to answer questions or provide conclusions.

2
Q

What are the TWO major concepts of Statistics?

A

1) Variation (changes/differences in an item)

2) Data (observations gathered to draw conclusions)

3
Q

What are the TWO main types of Statistics?

A

1) Descriptive statistics

2) Inferential statistics

4
Q

Define Descriptive Statistics…

A

The statistical method used to describe data that has been collected.

5
Q

Define Inferential Statistics…

A

The statistical method used to find the characteristics of a population based on a sample.

6
Q

What are some key features / keywords that can be found in Descriptive Statistics?

A

Mean / median / mode
Range / variance / standard deviation
Charts / graphs

7
Q

What are some terms that can be found in Inferential Statistics?

A

Confidence interval

Margin of error

8
Q

Define Experimental Unit…

A

An object about which we collect data. / The individuals or items on which we perform the experiment.

9
Q

Define Population…

A

A set of all units we are interested in studying,

10
Q

Define Parameter…

A

A specific characteristic of a population.

11
Q

What is a census?

A

When every experimental unit of a population is examined, it is called a census.

12
Q

Define Sample…

A

A subset of units of a population.

13
Q

Define Statistic…

A

A specific characteristic of a sample.

14
Q

Define Variable…

A

A characteristic that varies from one objects to another.

15
Q

How can data be classified according to the source?

A

1) Primary Data

2) Secondary Data

16
Q

Define Primary Data…

A

Data collected by the investigator conducting the research.

17
Q

Give THREE benefits of having a primary data source to a study.

A

1) Data is original
2) Data is current and realistic
3) Data is reliable

18
Q

Give THREE disadvantages of having a primary data source in a study.

A

1) Data collection requires time and effort
2) Data collection cost is high
3) Trained people are needed to gather data in some cases.

19
Q

Define Secondary Data…

A

Data collected by someone else for some other reason/research. / The person performing the data analysis is not the data collecter.

20
Q

Give THREE advantages of using a secondary data source in a research.

A

1) Cheaper and faster access to data
2) Saves time and money
3) The direction of the research can be determined easily

21
Q

Give TWO disadvantages of having a secondary data source in a study.

A

1) Data may be obsolete

2) Data may not be reliable

22
Q

Name SIX methods of collecting data.

A

1) Questionnaires
2) Interviews
3) Designed experiments
4) Registration
5) Survey
6) Published sources

23
Q

What are the TWO main types of Data?

A

1) Quantitative Data

2) Qualitative Data

24
Q

Define Quantitative Variables…

A

A quantitative variable describes a quantity or measurement where the magnitude is meaningful.

25
Q

How are Quantitative Variables further classified?

A

1) Discrete Variables

2) Continuous Variables

26
Q

Define Discrete Variables…

A

Variables whose possible values can be listed even if the list continues indefinitely.
(involves a count of something)

27
Q

Define Continuous Variables…

A

Variables which can take any value between its minimum and maximum value.
(a measurement)

28
Q

Give another name for Qualitative Variables

A

Categorical variables

29
Q

Give another name for Qualitative Variables

A

Numerical variables

30
Q

Name the FOUR Levels of Measurement in order

A

1) Nominal
2) Ordinal
3) Interval
4) Ratio

31
Q

Which type of data can be measured on a Nominal or Ordinal scale?

A

Qualitative data/ Categorical data

32
Q

Which type of data can be measured on an Interval or Ratio scale?

A

Quantitative data/ Numerical data

33
Q

Give TWO characteristics of the Nominal level of measurement.

A

1) Data consists of names/ labels/ categories only.

2) The data cannot be ranked or ordered.

34
Q

Give THREE characteristics of the Ordinal level of measurement.

A

1) The data can be arranged in some order.
2) The precise difference between measurements cannot be determined.
3) The data cannot be used for computations.

35
Q

Give THREE characteristics of the Interval level of measurement.

A

1) The intervals of the data is meaningful.
2) The ratios are not meaningful.
3) Data has an arbitrary zero point.

36
Q

Give TWO characteristics of the Ratio level of measurement.

A

1) Both the intervals and the ratios of the data are meaningful.
2) Data has an absolute zero point.

37
Q

Define Qualitative variables

A

Qualitative variables describe a quality or class where the magnitude of the measurement is not meaningful. (can be numerical/ non-numerical)