Lab in Neurobio Week 2 Quiz Flashcards

What is the definition of generalizing in statistics?

Extrapolating from a sample, or particular data set, to make conclusions or inferences about a population

In what four areas are samples and populatins commonly used?

1. quality control

2. political polls

3. clinical studies

4. lab experiments

Why can’t you conclude anything about a population based on one person?

Can’t extrapolate from N of 1 to make conclusions about other people or a general population

Define bias in experimental design

When the experimental design is faulty, causing the result to be consistently too high or too low

What is sampling error?

When the specific sample you collect happens to have a higher or lower mean than the true population mean due to chance

What is selection bias?

When the difference between the saple value and the true population value is caused by preferential sampling of subjects with similar values

What is a mathematical model? What does it consist of?

Mathematical description of a simplified view of the world

Consists of:

• general description (the blueprint) - ex. gaussian bell curve or exponential decay

• parameters (with particular values) such as a mean and standard deviation - ex. mean and standard deviation, half life

What is hierarchical (multilevel) sampling?

When data is organized into levels, where higher levels are broad categories and lower levels are specific units

What is the ultimate goal of data analysis?

To make the strongest possible conclusion from limited amounts of data

How are the results of statistical calculations usually expresseD?

In terms of probability