Engineering Data Analysis

MIDTERM REVIEWER

The science of collecting, organizing, summarizing, and analyzing information to draw conclusions.

Statistics

A collection of facts, observations, or measurements.

Data

The complete set of all entities under study.

Universe

The set of all possible values for a variable.

Population

A single person or object that is a member of the population being studied.

Individual

A subset or subgroup of the universe or the population.

Sample

A numerical summary that describes a characteristic of a population.

Parameter

A numerical value that is computed from and describes a sample.

Statistic

The first step in the process of statistics, which involves defining the "what" and "why" of a study.

Identify the research objective

The branch of statistics focused on organizing and summarizing data through tables, graphs, and numerical measurements.

Descriptive Statistics

The branch of statistics that uses sample results to make predictions about a population and measures the reliability of those results.

Inferential Statistics

A characteristic that can differ among individuals within a population.

Variable

A type of variable that yields categorical responses, such as a word or a code.

Qualitative variable

A type of variable that takes on numerical values representing an amount or quantity.

Quantitative variable

A quantitative variable that has a finite or "countable" number of possible values.

Discrete variable

A quantitative variable that has an infinite number of possible values within a given range.

Continuous variable

The level of measurement used only to classify or categorize objects or events.

Nominal

The level of measurement that includes the property of a logical or natural order to its categories.

Ordinal

The level of measurement characterized by ordered values and equal intervals, but lacks a true zero point.

Interval

The highest level of measurement, which has an absolute zero point.

Ratio

The systematic process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest.

Data Collection

A type of data source that provides a first-hand account of an event or time period.

Primary source

A type of data source that offers an analysis, interpretation, or restatement of original sources.

Secondary source

A primary data collection method where a researcher has direct, face-to-face contact with an interviewee.

Direct personal interviews

A primary data collection method involving a guided group interview of six to twelve people with common interests.

Focus group

A primary data collection method involving direct human intervention on conditions to observe outcomes.

Experiment

A primary data collection method that involves recording observations about a phenomenon as it happens.

Observation

Records maintained by an institution or internal government reports are examples of this type of data source.

Secondary source

The variable type for a person's eye color.

Qualitative

The variable type for the temperature in a room.

Quantitative

The number of children in a family is an example of what specific type of quantitative variable?

Discrete

The height of a person is an example of what specific type of quantitative variable?

Continuous

The ranking of military officers is an example of what level of measurement?

Ordinal

The method of payment (cash, check, credit) is an example of what level of measurement?

Nominal

A person's income is an example of what level of measurement?

Ratio

Dates on a calendar are an example of what level of measurement?

Interval

A farmer samples 100 plants to learn about his entire soybean crop. The entire soybean crop represents the _____.

Population

An auto manufacturer wishes to estimate the average lifetime of batteries by testing 50 of them. This is an example of _____ statistics.

Inferential

A student wants to determine the variability of her six exam scores. This is an example of _____ statistics.

Descriptive

Inability to answer research questions accurately is a consequence of _____ collected data.

Improperly

The first step in the process of data gathering.

Set the objectives for collecting data

The final step in the overall process of statistics.

Draw conclusion from the information

A person's IQ score is an example of this level of measurement.

Interval

The weight of a hamburger is an example of this level of measurement.

Ratio

Social economic class (First, Middle, Lower) is an example of this level of measurement.

Ordinal

The brand of a car is an example of this level of measurement.

Nominal

Information gathered from a published report in a newspaper is considered what type of data source?

Secondary source

A researcher conducting a study by asking questions directly to participants is collecting what type of data?

Primary data

A focus group is a method for collecting what type of data?

Primary data

Using existing data that was originally collected for a different purpose is known as the _____ method.

Indirect/Questionnaire