PSYC 2021 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Statistical Inference, Statistic, Statistical Parameter
20 Oct 2017
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Document Summary
An average score for the population is called the parameter. A characteristic that describes a sample is called a statistic (average score for a sample) Every population parameter has a corresponding sample statistic. Descriptive statistics; statistical procedures used to summarize, organize, and simplify data. Often organized in a table or graph. Can be summarized by computing an average. Inferential statistics; technique that studies samples and then makes generalizations about populations from which they were selected. Does not always give such an accurate representation of entire population. Sampling error discrepancy that occurs between sample statistic and population parameter. One variable manipulates and the other is measured by the manipulator. There must also be control- to ensure other extraneous variables do not interfere. Environmental variabes; lighting, time of day etc. Control condition: receive little to no experimental treatment placebo affect. Non-equivalent groups pre-exsisting characteristics (boys must be in boys group, vice versa) Pre-post study- eg. before and after depression scores.
