Psychology: Descriptive Statistics

Question 1

What are the 3 measures of Central Tendency?

Answer 1

Mean
Median
Mode

Question 2

How to calculate mean, median and mode?

Answer 2

Mean - Add and divide
Median - Middle
Mode - See the most

Question 3

What is a strength and limitation of using the mean?

Answer 3

Strength:
All scores are taken into account therefore more representative of all the date
Limitation:
It can be skewed by extreme scores

Question 4

What is a strength and limitation of using the mode?

Answer 4

Strength:
Only measure that can be used on all types of data
Limitation:
There may be several modes. Ignore all other scores.

Question 5

What is a strength and limitation of using the median?

Answer 5

Strength:
Not skewed by extreme scores
Limitation:
It does not take into account all scores

Question 6

What do you use Mean, Mode and Median?

Answer 6

Mean - no extreme scores
Median - 1 or more extreme scores
Mode - can be used on any data but usually used when data is categorical

Question 7

What is a meant by a normal distribution?

Answer 7

Mean, mode and median are roughly the same

Question 8

What is meant by positive skew?

Answer 8

The mean is higher then the mode

Question 9

What is meant by a negative skew?

Answer 9

The mean is lower than the mode

Question 10

What are 2 measures of dispersion?

Answer 10

Range and Standard Deviation

Question 11

What is Standard Deviation better to use than range?

Answer 11

Standard Deviation is a better measure of distribution as it takes in account all scores not just the highest and lowest

Question 12

What does a larger Standard Deviation show?

Answer 12

The larger the SD the greater the variation or spread of scores from the mean

Question 13

What does a low Standard Deviation show?

Answer 13

A low SD would suggest there is little variation in scores - they are clustered around the mean.

Question 14

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

Answer 14

Quantitative data is numerical and measurable, such as test scores or the number of times a behavior occurs, making it suitable for statistical analysis. In contrast, qualitative data is non-numerical, focusing on descriptions, opinions, and experiences, often from interviews or observations, which provides rich detail but is more challenging to analyze

Question 15

Which research methods produce quantitative data?

Answer 15

Closed questionaires, surveys, experiments

Question 16

Which research methods produce qualitative data?

Answer 16

Open questionaires, observations

Question 17

Give a strength and limitation of quantitative data

Answer 17

• Strength: easier to compare data collected
• Limitations: Lack of Context

Question 18

Give a strength and limitation of qualitative data

Answer 18

• Strength: More in-depth insight
• Limitations: Generalizability

Question 19

Explain the difference between primary and secondary data

Answer 19

Primary data is for the researcher’s direct use, while secondary data is already collected and available for others to use.