PSYC 3500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Descriptive Statistics, Intelligence Quotient, Decimal Mark
Document Summary
Statistics--mathematical procedures used to summarize, analyze, and interpret observations. Data--numbers assigned to observations according to rules, called scores or raw scores . Inferential--allows sample results to be generalized to representative populations. Allows for clear presentation of data summary (i. e. , tables, graphs or single values) Data typically drawn from a portion of the overall group of interest. Allows researchers to make inferences about parameters in a population based on a sample of data. Population--entire set of individuals or items of interest. Data are termed statistics (most behavioral research done on samples) High level of control to isolate cause and effect. Independent variable (iv)--manipulated; the proposed cause (example: effect of bold versus regular font on memory recall. ) Quantifies the strength and direction of a relationship between two (or more) variables (x and y) Degree to which measured variables conform to the abstract number system. Includes: identity, order, equal distance, and absolute zero (i. e. , complete absence of the variable)