Basic statistical concepts

Question 1

Define educational research

Answer 1

“Creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications” (OECD, 2002)

Question 2

define quantitative approach

Answer 2

research about obtaining and analysing numbers

Question 3

define measurement

Answer 3

the processes we use to represent concepts (e.g. income, self-belief) with numbers
type of quantitative approach
used in educational research

Question 4

define statistics

Answer 4

Analysis of numeric data like measurement e.g. average grades

Question 5

what does measurement error mean?

Answer 5

no measure is 100% accurate
there is always a small degree of error

Question 6

define random measurement error

Answer 6

errors we can’t control

Question 7

define systematic measurement error

Answer 7

errors we can control
these errors should be minimised because they may lead to bias in the research findings

Question 8

what are the four levels of measurement?

Answer 8

categorical/nominal
binary/ dichotomous/ nominal
ordinal
continuous/scale

Question 9

what are the 3 levels of measurement called on SPSS?

Answer 9

nominal (categorical and binary)
ordinal
scale (continuous)

Question 10

define categorical level of measurement

Answer 10

the arbitrary allocation of numbers e.g. to countries

Question 11

define binary level of measurement

Answer 11

when only two numbers are allocation e.g. free school meal eligible?

Question 12

define ordinal level of measurement

Answer 12

when numbers can be ordered, but without knowing if the steps between the numbers are equal e.g. not true [0], somewhat true [1], certainly true [2]

Question 13

define continuous level of measurement

Answer 13

when numbers can be ordered and the steps between numbers are clearly equal e.g. height, weight, income, score

Question 14

Rules for labelling, numbering and locating tables and figures:

Answer 14

• All tables and figures need label that describes what the table/figure shows
  
  • All tables and figures need a number in ascending order as you read it that comes before the name of the table/figure
  • Tables and figures maintain their own number lists e.g. ‘see table 1, see figure 1’
  • Refer to a table or figure in your text and then insert the table/figure immediately under that paragraph
  • Reference to a figure and table in your text needs to be by its number and capital letter e.g. ‘… the results of the experiment can be seen in Tables 1 and 2’
  • Numbered labels for tables go above the table
  • Numbered labels for figures go above or below the figures
  • Tables in academic writing are typically formatted without vertical lines
  • Notes explaining acronyms and symbols occur underneath figures and tables
  • Never copy and paste tables from SPSS