Simple Regression in Quantitative Research Methods

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to simple regression and correlation in quantitative research methods.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables.

Scattergram

Graphs used to show the relationship between two sets of data.

Correlation Coefficient

A number that summarises the relationship as observed in a scattergram.

Causation

The action of causing something; correlations do not imply causation.

Linear Regression

A linear approach for modeling the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more explanatory variables.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome variable that is being predicted or measured.

Predictor Variable

The explanatory variable used to predict an outcome.

R-squared (R²)

An estimate of the variance in the dependent variable that is explained by the predictor variables.

Residuals

The differences between the observed values and the predicted values from the regression line.

p-value

A measure that indicates the significance of results; p < 0.05 is generally considered statistically significant.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon.

Bootstrapping

A statistical method that involves resampling with replacement to estimate the sampling distribution.

Line of Best Fit

A straight line that best represents the data on a scatter plot.

Standardized Beta

A beta coefficient that has been standardized to have a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1, allowing for comparison across variables.

Variance

A measure of how far a set of numbers are spread out from their average value.

Coefficient of Determination

The square of the correlation coefficient, indicating the proportion of variance in the dependent variable that can be predicted from the independent variable.

Significant Relationship

A relationship indicating that changes in one variable are related to changes in another, as determined by statistical analysis.