chapter 2 ~ recording and analysing data, drawing and communicating conclusions

qualitative data

data that can describes characteristics and qualities

quantitative

data that includes measurable values and quantities that can be compared on a numerical scale

percentage change

a calculation of the degree of change in a value over time

measures of central tendency

a category of statistics that describes the central value of a set of data

mean

a statistic that is the average value of a set of data

mean

the middle value when the set is ordered

mode

the value that occurs the most in a set of data

standard deviation

a statistic that shows the spread of the data around the mean

measures of variability

a category of statistics that describe the distribution of data

true value

the value or range of values that would be found if the quantity could be measured perfectly

accuracy

how close a measurements is to the true value of the quantity being measured

precision

how close a set of measurement values are to eachother

repeatability

the closeness of the agreement between successive measurements of the same quantity carried out under the same condition

reproducibility

the closeness of the agreement between measurements of the same quantity, carried out under different conditions

validity

whether a measurement measures what it is supposed to measure

internal validity

whether a study investigates what it sets out or claims to investigate

external validity

whether the results of research can be applied to similar individuals in a different

personal error

a mistake miscalculation or observer error made when conflicting research

measurement error

the difference between the measured value and the true value

systematic error

an error that causes readings to differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time a measurement is made

random error

an error that creates unpredictable variations in the measurement process and results in a spread of reading

uncertainty

a lack of exact knowledge of the value being measured

contradictory data

data that appears incorrect

incomplete data

data that has elements missing

outlier

a value that lies a long way from other measures

opinion

a judgement that is not necessarily based on proof

anecdote

a short personal account of an event

evidence

a verified fact

conclusions

a statement about the findings of a study which adresses the aim and hypothesis

implications

the impact a study might have on the population relevant theory and future research