Q1-T,2/4 Flashcards
(34 cards)
What are descriptive statistics?
They tell you about your population (age, gender, etc.)
Descriptive statistics do not include statistical tests and are performed first to help decide what statistics to perform later.
What do central tendency measures include?
- Mean
- Median
- Mode
Central tendency measures summarize a data set with a single value representing the center of the data distribution.
What are 4 measures of dispersion?
- Variance
- Standard deviation
- RMS error
- Inter-quartile range
Measures of dispersion describe the spread or variability of a data set.
What are measures of data range?
- Min
- Max
- Outliers
What is the purpose of power analysis?
To help design the experiment before it is conducted
Power analysis assesses the sample size required to detect an effect of a given size with a certain degree of confidence.
What does correlation refer to?
The relationship between variables
Correlation measures the degree to which two variables move in relation to each other.
What does regression analyze?
The separation between variables
Regression is used to understand how the typical value of the dependent variable changes when any one of the independent variables is varied.
What is ANCOVA?
Analysis of covariance
ANCOVA combines ANOVA and regression, allowing for the comparison of one or more means while controlling for other variables.
What are non-parametric statistics?
They have fewer or no assumptions about the underlying shape of the data
Non-parametric statistics are useful when data do not meet the assumptions necessary for parametric tests.
What are parametric statistics?
They are usually more statistically descriptive and hence more desirable
Parametric statistics assume that the data follows a certain distribution, typically a normal distribution.
What are carryover effects?
When the effects of receiving one treatment affect participants in subsequent conditions
E.g., participants may get better at performing a task across trials
This can lead to confounding results in experimental trials.
What is the observer (Hawthorne) effect?
When subjects modify behavior in response to their knowledge of being studied
This effect can introduce bias in research findings.
What is desired variability in an experiment?
Experiment variability due to the conditions of interest; planned, systematic variability
Desired variability is typically the effect the researcher aims to measure.
What is undesired variability?
Experiment variability in the measurement process or in the experimental material and/or process
E.g., poor choice of subjects
Unplanned variability can lead to confounding variables affecting the results.
What are the three fundamental ethical principles identified in the Belmont report?
- Respect for persons
- Beneficence
- Justice
These principles guide ethical considerations in human subject research.
What does ‘respect for persons’ entail?
Respect each person’s autonomy and their ability to choose to participate in the study
It also involves protecting individuals with limited autonomy.
What is the principle of beneficence?
Maximizing benefit and minimizing harm in research
This principle emphasizes the ethical obligation to protect the welfare of research participants.
What does the principle of justice involve?
Distributing risks and benefits equally among participants and the public
Justice ensures fairness in the recruitment of participants and the distribution of benefits from research.
Why is the term ‘participant’ preferred over ‘subject’?
Participant gives a sense of consensual participation
The term ‘subject’ is often viewed as dehumanizing in the context of research.
What are common reasons for conducting human experiments?
- To test a hypothesis
- To validate models
- Concept validation
- Improve product design
Human experiments are essential for understanding complex human behaviors and responses.
When should human experiments be avoided?
- Existing data available
- Critical consequences to subjects
- Study is not well designed
Ethical considerations must guide the decision to conduct human experiments.
What is the experimental design process?
- Research question (hypothesis)
- Design experiment
- Collect data
- Analyze data
- Draw conclusions
- Repeat (or give up)
This process is iterative and essential for conducting rigorous research.
What is an independent variable?
What you manipulate or observe; also called explanatory
Independent variables are central to experimental design as they are the presumed cause of changes in the dependent variable.
What is a dependent variable?
What you measure; also called outcome
Dependent variables reflect the effects of the independent variable in an experiment.
