SCMA*2040 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Quartile, Interquartile Range, Rita Mae Brown
Week 10: Stats Intro
A knowledge of statistics is like a knowledge of foreign languages or of algebra; it may
prove of use at any time under any circumstances. - A.L.Bowley
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some
form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they are okay, then it's you.
-Rita Mae Brown
The good, the bad and the ugly
-US school shootings are an epidemic of violence.
-Child abuse has doubled every year since 1950
-Binge drinking is a growing threat to Canada’s youth
-You can beat the casino!
Key Questions
1. What distinguishes research from guessing?
2. If research is the social construction of knowledge, how can anything be
accurate?
3. How much is hidden – a “dark figure”?
4. Can statistics take on a life of their own – using a “dark figure”
5. Who is defending/ attacking the numbers?
6. What is the motive of the person defending/attacking the statistic?
7. Is a broad or narrow definition being used? (false positives/ false negatives)
8. What is being asked? How is it asked? Who is asking?
Variables and Constants
-Social research - recognizes Constants, gives meaning to Variables
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
A knowledge of statistics is like a knowledge of foreign languages or of algebra; it may prove of use at any time under any circumstances. The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Us school shootings are an epidemic of violence. Child abuse has doubled every year since 1950. Binge drinking is a growing threat to canada"s youth. Is a broad or narrow definition being used? (false positives/ false negatives) Social research - recognizes constants, gives meaning to variables. Median is not sensitive to extreme values. Eg: person watches 200 hours of tv _ 3, 5, 7, 7, 200 median=7 x =45. 8. Frequency - numerical count of something (44 students are female) Mean: average (sum of all divided by total number of scores) See how far apart the extreme groups are. Divide the data into 2: high & low groups at the median.
