Chapter 1: Introduction to Statistics & Research

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 1.

Statistics is the science concerned with developing and studying methods for collecting, analyzing, interpreting and presenting data.

empirical

Statistics is used to organize individual scores to examine .

patterns

Statistics is used to summarize data to understand general .

characteristics

Statistics is used to results of a study.

communicate

Statistics is used to what the data indicate.

interpret

The goal of behavioral research is to understand the 'laws of nature' that apply to the .

behaviors of living organisms

The entire group to which a law of nature applies is a .

population

A is a relatively small subset of a population intended to represent the population.

sample

The individuals who are measured in a sample are called .

participants

Scores & Representation: A sample is used to infer the scores we would expect to find in the .

population

A variable is anything that can produce two or more different .

scores

Quantitative variables are also known as a variable.

continuous

Qualitative variables are also known as a discrete / variable.

categorical

In a relationship, as the scores on one variable change, the scores on the other variable change in a fashion.

consistent

Pattern 1 (Positive): As X increases, Y .

increases

Pattern 2 (Negative/Inverse): As X increases, Y .

decreases

Perfect consistency is not required to have a relationship; some degree of is sufficient.

consistency

Descriptive statistics are procedures for sample data.

organizing and summarizing

Inferential statistics are procedures for drawing about the scores and relationships that would be found in the population.

inferences

A statistic is a number describing an aspect of the scores in a .

sample

A parameter is a number describing an aspect of the scores in the .

population

There are two major types of research designs: studies.

experimental

There are two major types of research designs: studies.

correlational

In an experiment, the independent variable is changed or manipulated by the .

experimenter

The dependent variable measures a behavior or attribute that we suspect may be influenced by the .

independent variable

An IV must have at least levels/conditions.

two

Variable A – Location is our Independent Variable, with 2 levels – 1) Inside & 2) .

Outside

In a correlational study, the researcher measures participants’ scores on two variables and then determines whether a exists.

relationship

Correlation DOES NOT causation!

infer

A scale does not measure an amount; rather, it categorizes or classifies individuals.

nominal

An ordinal scale indicates order.

rank

Interval scales do not have a 'true' .

zero