COM 470 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Statistical Significance, Focus Group, Hypothesis
Document Summary
Correlation: an empirical relationship between two variables such that (1) changes in one are associated with changes in the other, or (2) particular attributes of one variable are associated with particular attributes of the other. Thus, for example, we say that education and income are correlated in that higher levels of education are associated with higher levels of income. Correlation in and of itself does not constitute a causal relationship between the two variables, but it is one criterion or causality. Spurious relationship: a coincidental statistical correlation between two variables, shown to e caused by some third variable. Units of analysis: the what or whom being studied. In social science research the most typical units of analysis are individual people. Social artifact: any product of social beings or their behavior. Ecological fallacy: erroneously basing conclusions about individuals solely on the observation of groups.
