Unit 2: Data, Sample, Variables

Question 1

Research Design

Answer 1

formal plan for gathering and analyzing data

Question 2

Independent variables (IV)

Answer 2

Antecedent variables and affect other variables
* Aka, “X” variable, predictor variable

Question 3

• Dependent variables (DV)

Answer 3

• Affected by IVs
• Aka, “Y” variable, outcome variable

Question 4

Measurement scales

Answer 4

Question 5

Types of Statistics

Answer 5

• Descriptive
• Inferential

Question 6

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 6

Summarize the characteristics of a data set

Question 7

Inferential Statistics

Answer 7

Analyze the larger group (i.e., population) through the smaller group’s (i.e., sample) characteristics to draw inferences about the population

Question 8

give an example of inferential statistics

Answer 8

Examples:
* How does a good kindergarten classroom affect children’s life outcome?
* Do students of the same aptitude perform the same on all test questions? Are some
questions more difficult for certain groups of students?

Question 9

give an example of descriptive statistics

Answer 9

• SAT test scores for the incoming students
• What is the average?
• What is the composite SAT scores of Bio 93 students?

Question 10

Population

Answer 10

all members of a defined group
Population includes all individuals or objects of interest

Question 11

μ (“mu”)

Answer 11

represents mean of some characteristic in a population
* Example: Coffee consumption of Americans (American population =
329.5 million in 2020)
* Mean of coffee consumption, μ = 3 cups a da

Question 12

Sample

Answer 12

any subset of a population
Sample is all cases that we have collected data on (a subset of the population)
Example: random sample of 1,000 college students
* Mean of coffee consumption, M = 4 cups a day

Question 13

M

Answer 13

mean of a sample

Question 14

Statistical inference

Answer 14

is the process of using data from a sample to gain
info about the population