Introduction to Statistics

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes the role of descriptive statistics in research?

To draw conclusions about observed differences between groups and generalize them to larger populations.
To determine the number of participants needed for a study.
To present the study's results without generalizing them to a larger group. (correct)
To identify potential ethical violations in research.

What is the primary purpose of inferential statistics?

To draw conclusions about observed differences and extrapolate results to larger populations. (correct)
To measure the strength of association between variables without generalizing.
To present data characteristics in a summarized format.
To ensure the ethical treatment of research participants.

In statistical analysis, what does 'statistical significance' primarily indicate?

Whether the results represent a meaningful outcome and are not likely due to chance. (correct)
The practical importance of the research findings in real-world applications.
The degree to which the study's sample accurately represents the broader population.
That the observed results are likely due to chance alone.

If a study reports a p-value of 0.03, how should this be interpreted in relation to statistical significance?

The results are statistically significant because the p-value is less than 0.05. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in statistical analysis?

To measure both statistical significance and the strength of association between variables. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In what situation would an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) be most appropriately used?

When demographic variables are unequally distributed between groups and need to be controlled. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In a study evaluating the effect of a new drug on blood pressure, researchers use ANCOVA to control for patients' ages because the treatment groups have significantly different age distributions. What is the role of age in this analysis?

Confounding variable (cofactor) (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of conducting a power analysis before starting a research study?

To determine the number of participants needed to have a reasonable chance of finding statistical significance. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum recommended number of subjects per outcome measure in a research study, according to the information provided?

10 (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the material, what is the most important thing for a research novice to look for in published articles regarding statistics?

Whether a study performed any tests of statistical significance. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'Mean' in descriptive statistics?

The sum of all values in a dataset divided by the number of values. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the 'Median'?

It is the mid-point separating the higher half from the lower half of a data set. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How would you calculate the median in a dataset with an even number of values?

Take the mean of the two central numbers. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In statistics, what does the 'Mode' represent?

The most frequently occurring value. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which is true regarding 'Mode'?

The mode can be bimodal or trimodal. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Dispersion' measure in statistics?

The variability and spread of data around the middle. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does a small standard deviation indicate about a dataset?

Data points are clustered close to the mean. (C) Signup and view all the answers

If a data point is identified as an 'outlier', how does it relate to the standard deviation?

It falls in the tail ends (extremes) of a standard deviation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Range' refer to in descriptive statistics?

The difference between the highest and lowest values. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does 'External Validity' primarily assess in research?

The ability to apply research findings beyond the context of the study. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of 'Internal Validity'?

Linking cause and effect within the study and excluding other explanations. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does a study with good internal validity achieve?

It excludes any alternative hypotheses. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'Confounding Variable'?

A variable that hides or masks the effect of another variable. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does 'Selection' pose a threat to internal validity?

By using specific groups (e.g. volunteers). (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of statistical validity, what is a 'Type I error'?

Rejecting a null hypothesis that is actually true. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'Type II error'?

Failing to find an effect that is actually there. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How is 'power' generally increased in a study?

By decreasing the number of measured outcomes. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In research, what is 'Reliability'?

The reproducibility of information obtained in a study. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the 'Test-retest' method for assessing reliability?

Administering the same test twice. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the core idea behind assessing reliability using the 'Equivalent-forms method'?

Using different forms of a test that are comparable. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is Statistics?

The study of the collection, organization, analysis and interpretation of collected data.

What are Descriptive Statistics?

Present the study's results without generalizing them to a larger group; includes range, central tendency, and standard deviations.

What are Inferential Statistics?

Used to draw conclusions about observed differences between groups and whether results can be extrapolated to larger populations (i.e. statistical significance).

What is Statistical Significance?

Tells us whether the results represent a meaningful result or are likely due to chance; values of p = < .05 are considered statistically significant.