PSYB01H3 Lecture : Chapter notes
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Inferential statistics are necessary because the results of a given study are based on data obtained from a single sample of research participants. Inferential statistics statistics designed to determine whether results based on sample data are generalizable to a population. The assumption in an experimental design is that if the groups are equivalent, any differences in the dependent variable must be due to the effect of the independent variable. However, it is also true that the difference between any two groups will almost never be zero i. e. there will be some difference in the sample means, even when all of the principles of experimental design are utilized. The difference in the sample means reflects any true difference in the population means (i. e. the effect of the independent variable) plus any random error. Inferential statistics give the probability that the difference between means reflects random error rather than a real difference.