STATISTICS CONCEPTS AND METHODS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS
◉ Independent variable (IV).
Answer: The factor, condition, group, treatment, or predictor being
examined; what may influence another variable.
◉ Dependent variable (DV).
Answer: The outcome being measured; what the researcher is trying
to explain, predict, or see change.
◉ Population.
Answer: The entire group the researcher ultimately wants to
understand.
◉ Sample.
Answer: The smaller group actually included in the study.
◉ Generalizability.
Answer: The extent to which findings from a sample can reasonably
apply to a larger population.
, ◉ Correlation / association.
Answer: A relationship between variables; by itself, it does not
establish causation.
◉ Causality.
Answer: One variable produces or contributes to a change in
another variable.
◉ Descriptive statistics.
Answer: Statistics used to summarize or describe the observed data
or sample.
◉ Inferential statistics.
Answer: Statistics used to test differences or relationships and make
inferences beyond simple description.
◉ Continuous variable.
Answer: A numerical variable representing quantities on a range;
arithmetic is meaningful.
◉ Categorical variable.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS
◉ Independent variable (IV).
Answer: The factor, condition, group, treatment, or predictor being
examined; what may influence another variable.
◉ Dependent variable (DV).
Answer: The outcome being measured; what the researcher is trying
to explain, predict, or see change.
◉ Population.
Answer: The entire group the researcher ultimately wants to
understand.
◉ Sample.
Answer: The smaller group actually included in the study.
◉ Generalizability.
Answer: The extent to which findings from a sample can reasonably
apply to a larger population.
, ◉ Correlation / association.
Answer: A relationship between variables; by itself, it does not
establish causation.
◉ Causality.
Answer: One variable produces or contributes to a change in
another variable.
◉ Descriptive statistics.
Answer: Statistics used to summarize or describe the observed data
or sample.
◉ Inferential statistics.
Answer: Statistics used to test differences or relationships and make
inferences beyond simple description.
◉ Continuous variable.
Answer: A numerical variable representing quantities on a range;
arithmetic is meaningful.
◉ Categorical variable.
