Statistics Vocabulary (Data & Sampling)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key statistics concepts from Page 1 notes.

Statistics

The science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data to make decisions.

Data

Facts or observations collected for analysis; can be numbers, words, measurements, or observations.

Population

The entire group of individuals or items that you want to study.

Sample

A subset of the population selected for analysis.

Individual

A single member of the population or sample.

Descriptive statistics

Methods for organizing and summarizing data (e.g., charts, averages, percentages).

Inferential statistics

Techniques for making conclusions or predictions about a population based on a sample.

Parameter

A numerical value that describes a population.

Qualitative

Data that describes qualities or characteristics (e.g., color, gender, labels).

Quantitative

Data that can be measured or counted (e.g., height, age, number of pets).

Discrete variable

A quantitative variable with countable values (e.g., number of students).

Continuous variable

A quantitative variable with infinite possible values within a range (e.g., weight, time).

Nominal

Data that consists of names or labels with no order (e.g., hair color, brands).

Ordinal

Data with a meaningful order but unequal intervals (e.g., rankings, satisfaction levels).

Interval

Numerical data with equal intervals, but no true zero (e.g., temperature in °C).

Ratio

Numerical data with equal intervals and a true zero point (e.g., weight, age, income).

Value of zero

In ratio data, indicates absence of quantity; e.g., 0 dollars means no money.

Observational study

Research where the investigator observes without interfering or changing variables.

Designed experiment

A study where researchers apply treatments and observe effects.

Experimental experiment

Synonym for a designed experiment; researchers manipulate variables to observe effects.

Response variable

The outcome or result being measured (dependent variable).

Explanatory variable

The factor being changed or controlled to observe its effect (independent variable).

Confounding

When the effects of two variables cannot be separated; hard to tell which caused the result.

Lurking variable

A hidden variable not considered in the study that affects the results.

Cross-sectional

Data collected at one specific point in time.

Case-control

A study comparing individuals with a condition (cases) to those without (controls), often retrospectively.

Cohort

A study following a group (cohort) over time to observe outcomes.

Retrospective

A study that looks back at past data.

Prospective

A study that collects data going forward in time.

Census

A study that collects data from every individual in the population.

Frame

A list or resource that identifies all members of the population (used to draw samples).