Chapter 1

Why learn Statistics?

Helps understand articles, personal research, improves reasoning and intuition, makes you a better consumer of science.

What is Statistics?

A branch of applied mathematics focusing on the organization, analysis, and interpretation of groups of numbers or large amounts of data.

What are the two main branches of Statistics?

Descriptive and Inferential Statistics.

What does Descriptive Statistics do?

Summarizes a group of numbers from a research study by providing averages, graphs, tables, etc.

What is Inferential Statistics?

Methods for drawing conclusions and making inferences based on scores collected in a research study.

What is the difference between Population and Sample?

Population is the total set of subjects of interest, while Sample is a representative subset of the population.

What is a Variable?

A characteristic or condition that can have different values.

What are Discrete Variables?

Variables that can only take on fixed values, typically categorical.

What are Continuous Variables?

Variables that can take on an infinite or unlimited range of values.

What are the Scales or Levels of Measurement?

Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio.

What is an example of an Ordinal variable?

Class rank or birth order.

What characterizes Interval measurement?

Numeric, quantitative and continuous, with equal distances between intervals, but no absolute zero.

What is a Ratio measurement?

Similar to interval but includes an absolute zero, indicating the absence of something.

What are Assumptions Underlying Statistical Procedures?

Randomization, random selection, random assignment, and sample size.

What is the difference between a value and a variable?

A value is a number or category; a variable is a characteristic that can have different values.

What does Descriptive statistics help with in research?

Describes and summarizes a group of numbers from a research study.