Introduction to Statistics

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts from the introduction to statistics lecture, focusing on definitions and differences crucial for understanding statistical principles.

Statistics

The process of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.

Population

An entire collection of individuals or scores that are the subject of a study.

Sample

A small but representative subset of a population, selected for analysis.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or tested in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The outcome measure that is assessed in an experiment, which depends on the independent variable.

Descriptive Statistics

Statistics that summarize or describe characteristics of a data set.

Inferential Statistics

Statistics that allow us to draw conclusions or make inferences about a population based on sample data.

Sampling Error

The difference between a sample statistic and its corresponding population parameter.

Correlation

A statistical measure that describes the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Experimental Group

The group that receives the treatment or intervention in an experiment.

Control Group

The group that does not receive the treatment or intervention, used for comparison purposes.

Operational Definition

A clear, precise definition of a variable in terms of the operations or procedures used to measure it.

Nominal Scale

A scale of measurement that categorizes data without any order or ranking.

Ordinal Scale

A scale of measurement that orders categories but does not quantify the difference between them.

Interval Scale

A scale of measurement that has equal intervals between values but no true zero.

Ratio Scale

A scale of measurement that has equal intervals and a true zero point, allowing for comparisons of magnitude.

Discrete Variables

Quantitative variables that can take on only specific values, typically whole numbers.

Continuous Variables

Quantitative variables that can take on any value within a given range.