Tests and Measurements Exam

Nominal

No notion of order, magnitude or size

Ordinal

ranked in order, but the differences between ranked positions are not comparable

Interval

Equal or common unit of measurement; temperature or IQ

Ratio

Absolute zero point indicating absence of the trait, e.g. weight or temperature

Percentile

What % something is compared to others

Mean

Average

Median

Middle

Mode

Most often occurring

Normal Distribution

Positively skewed

most values cluster on the left

Negatively skewed

Variability

In a set of numbers, how widely dispersed the values are from each other and from the mean

Standard deviation

How scores vary around the mean

Z-score

How many standard deviations a value is from the mean, ranges from -3 - +3

Z = X-M / SD

z score formula

Correlation

How different variables are related to each other

Positive relationship

Variables move in the same direction

Negative relationship

Variables move in opposite directions

Coefficient of Determination

The squared value of r, represents the proportion of shared variance between 2 variables

Regression

Method for estimating the relationship between a dependent and independent variable, y = mx + b (for linear relationships)

Research hypothesis

What you actually believe will occur

Null hypothesis

A statement that there will be no relationship between variables

Alternative hypothesis

A statement that there will be a relationship between variables

Population

The entire group of people or observations in question

Sample

A subgroup of the population of interest

Independent variable

Manipulated by the researcher

Dependent variable

Observed to assess the effect of the experiment

Independent test

Used to examine the difference in one variable between 2 different groups, e.g. athletes vs non-athletes

Dependent test

To compare 2 related (paired) groups on one dependent variable, testing the same group twice

ANOVA

Analysis of variance: can examine with more than 2 groups, e.g. strength test with weights, bands and machines

Norm-referenced standard

Compared to other people

Criterion-referenced standard

Compared to a set standard required

Formative evaluation

Ongoing investigation, e.g. measuring weight each week

Summative evaluation

end of evaluation, measured at the start and the end

Placement

Putting people in general groups based on abilities

Diagnosis

Used to determine weaknesses or deficiencies

Prediction

Used to predict future events or results from present/past data

Motivation

Used to motivate students or athletes

Reliability

information that is accurate and consistent every time

Validity

How well the data conforms to the constraints of the experiment