EPIB301 Exam 1 Questions with Correct
Answers
data
a simplified measured information. it is the basis for all forms of research
measurement
how we acquire information on characteristics we wish to study. it is identifying a value for a
variable from an observation
variable
characteristics we are measuring
value
measurement of a variable. This can be numeric or nonnumeric
observation
the unit, such as a study participant, that we measure variables from. Each observation is a data
point in our dataset
independent variable
what leads to changes in the dependent variable. also called the EXPOSURE
Dependent variable
changed due to changes in the independent variable. also called the OUTCOME
association
,relationship between the independent and dependent variable
nominal
values have no natural order or magnitude. can be binary (two values) or multinominal (more
than two values)
ordinal
has values (at least 3) that can be put into a rank order. you can't tell the exact distance between
values however
quantitative
true numeric values, so they have both order and magnitude.
two major categories of quantitative variables
1. discrete
2. continuous
collapsed values
combined into smaller numbers of values if needed
index or scale
a way to combine variables such as by adding up the values for several related variables
table
the most basic form of data arrangement in the form of columns or rows
dataset
, typically a table of each observation and their value for each variable
data presentation
how you show your data to your audience. visual presentation can help convey important
characteristics of your information
bar charts and pie charts
can both be used to present categorical and ordinal data. A bar chart is typically better for
highlighting differences between groups, while a pie chart is better at showing how each group
compares to the total.
descriptive studies
assess the characteristics of a population. sometimes these are termed surveys
comparative studies
identify relationships (associations) between variables in a population.
two major types of comparative studies
observational, experimental
observational studies
the independent variable (exposure) is not manipulated by the researcher, it is just observed.
experimental study
the researcher manipulates the independent variable of interest, such as the treatment
sampling
Answers
data
a simplified measured information. it is the basis for all forms of research
measurement
how we acquire information on characteristics we wish to study. it is identifying a value for a
variable from an observation
variable
characteristics we are measuring
value
measurement of a variable. This can be numeric or nonnumeric
observation
the unit, such as a study participant, that we measure variables from. Each observation is a data
point in our dataset
independent variable
what leads to changes in the dependent variable. also called the EXPOSURE
Dependent variable
changed due to changes in the independent variable. also called the OUTCOME
association
,relationship between the independent and dependent variable
nominal
values have no natural order or magnitude. can be binary (two values) or multinominal (more
than two values)
ordinal
has values (at least 3) that can be put into a rank order. you can't tell the exact distance between
values however
quantitative
true numeric values, so they have both order and magnitude.
two major categories of quantitative variables
1. discrete
2. continuous
collapsed values
combined into smaller numbers of values if needed
index or scale
a way to combine variables such as by adding up the values for several related variables
table
the most basic form of data arrangement in the form of columns or rows
dataset
, typically a table of each observation and their value for each variable
data presentation
how you show your data to your audience. visual presentation can help convey important
characteristics of your information
bar charts and pie charts
can both be used to present categorical and ordinal data. A bar chart is typically better for
highlighting differences between groups, while a pie chart is better at showing how each group
compares to the total.
descriptive studies
assess the characteristics of a population. sometimes these are termed surveys
comparative studies
identify relationships (associations) between variables in a population.
two major types of comparative studies
observational, experimental
observational studies
the independent variable (exposure) is not manipulated by the researcher, it is just observed.
experimental study
the researcher manipulates the independent variable of interest, such as the treatment
sampling
