Topic 1: Introduction

Question 1

Statistics
(definition)

Answer 1

The term statistics refers to a set of mathematical procedures for organizing, summarizing, and interpreting information.

Question 2

Population
(definition)

Answer 2

A population is the set of all the individuals of interest in a particular study.

Question 3

Sample
(definition)

Answer 3

A sample is a set of individuals selected from a population, usually intended to represent the population in a research study.

Question 4

Variable
(definition)

Answer 4

A variable is a characteristic or condition that changes or has different values for different individuals.

Question 5

Data
(definition)

Answer 5

Data (plural) are measurements or observations.

Question 6

a data set
(definition

Answer 6

A data set is a collection of measurements or observations.

Question 7

A datum
(definition)

Answer 7

A datum (singular) is a single measurement or observation and is commonly called a score or raw score.

Question 8

A parameter
(definition)

Answer 8

A parameter is a value, usually a numerical value, that describes a population. A parameter is usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the population.

Question 9

A statistic
(definition)

Answer 9

A statistic is a value, usually a numerical value, that describes a sample. A statistic is usually derived from measurements of the individuals in the sample.

Question 10

Descriptive statistics
(definition)

Answer 10

Descriptive statistics are statistical procedures used to summarise, organise and simplify data.

Question 11

Inferential statistics
(definition)

Answer 11

Inferential statistics consist of techniques that allow us to study samples and then make generalizations about the populations from which they were selected.

Question 12

Sampling error
(definition)

Answer 12

Sampling error is the naturally occurring discrepancy, or error, that exists between a sample statistic and the corresponding population parameter.

Question 13

Correlation method
(definition)

Answer 13

In the correlational method, two different variables are observed to determine whether there is a relationship between them.

Question 14

Experimental method
(definition)

Answer 14

In the experimental method , one variable is manipulated while another variable is observed and measured. To establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the two variables, an experiment attempts to control all other variables to prevent them from influencing the results.

Question 15

Independent variable
(definition)

Answer 15

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher. In behavioral research, the independent variable usually consists of the two (or more) treatment conditions to which subjects are exposed. The independent variable consists of the antecedent conditions that were manipulated prior to observing the dependent variable.

Question 16

Dependent variable
(definition)

Answer 16

The dependent variable is the one that is observed to assess the effect of the treatment.

Question 17

Control condition
(definition)

Answer 17

Individuals in a control condition do not receive the experimental treatment. Instead, they either receive no treatment or they receive a neutral, placebo treatment. The purpose of a control condition is to provide a baseline for comparison with the experimental condition.

Question 18

Experimental condition
(definition)

Answer 18

Individuals in the experimental condition do receive the experimental treatment.

Question 19

Quasi-independent variable
(definition)

Answer 19

In a non-experimental study, the independent variable that is used to create the different groups of scores is often called Quasi-independent variable

Question 20

Constructs
(definition)

Answer 20

Constructs are internal attributes or characteristics that cannot be directly observed but are useful for describing and explaining behaviour.

Question 21

Operational
(definition)

Answer 21

An operational definition identifies a measurement procedure (a set of operations) for measuring an external behavior and uses the resulting measurements as a definition and a measurement of a hypothetical construct. Note that an operational definition has two components. First, it describes a set of operations for measuring a construct. Second, it defines the construct in terms of the resulting measurements.

Question 22

Discrete variable
(definition)

Answer 22

A discrete variable consists of separate, indivisible categories. No values can exist between two neighboring categories.

Question 23

Continuous variable
(definition)

Answer 23

For a continuous variable , there are an infinite number of possible values that fall between any two observed values. A continuous variable is divisible into an infinite number of fractional parts.

Question 24

Real limits
(definition)

Answer 24

Real limits are the boundaries of intervals for scores that are represented on a continuous number line. The real limit separating two adjacent scores is located exactly halfway between the scores. Each score has two real limits. The upper real limit is at the top of the interval, and the lower real limit is at the bottom.

Question 25

Nominal scale (definition)

Answer 25

A nominal scale consists of a set of categories that have different names. Measurements on a nominal scale label and categorize observations, but do not make any quantitative distinctions between observations.

Question 26

Ordinal scale (definition)

Answer 26

An ordinal scale consists of a set of categories that are organized in an ordered sequence. Measurements on an ordinal scale rank observations in terms of size or magnitude.

Question 27

Interval scale (definition)

Answer 27

An interval scale consists of ordered categories that are all intervals of exactly the same size. Equal differences between numbers on scale reflect equal differences in magnitude. However, the zero point on an interval scale is arbitrary and does not indicate a zero amount of the variable being measured.

Question 28

Ratio scale (definition)

Answer 28

A ratio scale is an interval scale with the additional feature of an absolute zero point. With a ratio scale, ratios of numbers do reflect ratios of magnitude.

Question 29

Central Tendency (definition)

Answer 29

Central tendency is a statistical measure to determine a single score that defines the center of a distribution. The goal of central tendency is to find the single score that is most typical or most representative of the entire group.

Question 30

Mean (statistical definition)

Answer 30

The mean for a distribution is the sum of the scores divided by the number of scores.

Question 31

Median (statistical definition)

Answer 31

If the scores in a distribution are listed in order from smallest to largest, the median is the midpoint of the list. More specifically, the median is the point on the measurement scale below which 50% of the scores in the distribution are located.

Question 32

Mode (statistical definition)

Answer 32

In a frequency distribution, the mode is the score or category that has the greatest frequency.