PUP 3002 FSU - Midterm 2 Exam
Questions and Answers
Spurious Relationship - ANSWER-when a relationship between two variables
appears to exist, due to the confounding presence of a third variable
Internal Validity - ANSWER-the likelihood or level of confidence that a casual
inference drawn from an analysis reflects the "true" underlying casual relationship
External Validity - ANSWER-whether the findings from a study based upon a sample
or an experiment can be extended or generalized to a larger population
Descriptive statistics - ANSWER-help describe both the average response and
dispersion of opinion around the average for a given population of stakeholders or
clientele
Correlation - ANSWER-tells us whether and how strongly two variables tend to co-
vary
Scientific uncertainty - ANSWER-process of estimating a precise expression of
uncertainty in some claim that derives primarily from three sources o =f error;
measurement error, random error, and sampling error
Random Error - ANSWER-the stochastic or random probability that some events are
simply not perfectly predictable
Population - ANSWER-entire set of individuals or cases with which an analyst is
interested in examining or learning about
Sample - ANSWER-subset of the population
Parameters - ANSWER-characteristics of the population
Hypothesis Testing - ANSWER-process in which scientists attempt to determine
whether sufficient evidence for the research hypothesis has been presented to reject
the null hypothesis
Observational Studies - ANSWER-compare the differences in Y between populations
that have X and those that do not have X
Ill-Informed Skepticism - ANSWER-disbelief or distrust in a scientific claim that is
based less upon rigorous evaluations of competing arguments and evidence and
more upon political orientation or vested interest
, Statistics - ANSWER-what is the measured value of 'X' using our sample population
Type I Error (false positive) - ANSWER-When one rejects a true null hypothesis,
then we say that an analyst has committed a particular type of a hypothesis testing
error
Type II Error (false negative) - ANSWER-When one accepts a false null hypothesis,
then we say that an analyst has committed a particular type of a hypothesis testing
error
Policy-Oriented Learning - ANSWER-when we observe coalitions members revising
their beliefs in the presence of new information
Counterfactual Outcome - ANSWER-how the experimental group would have
performed with a specific variable.
Ill informed adherence - ANSWER-the adoption of of or belief in a claim is based
less upon rigorous evaluations of competing arguments and evidence and more
upon political orientation or vested interest.
Factual Outcome - ANSWER-how the experimental group actually performed under
the given variables.
Selection effect - ANSWER-occurs when there is a non random selection of the
experimental and control groups and can lead to inaccurate data.
Minimum conditions (for drawing valid causal inferences) - ANSWER-To estimate a
valid causal inference with the classic experiment we must ensure that all other
variables that are correlated with both our treatment and our outcome are randomly
distributed across the groups.
Central Tendency - ANSWER-the most probable outcome.
Variations - ANSWER-a change or difference in condition, amount, or level, typically
with some limits.
Dispersion - ANSWER-the state of being dispersed over a certain area.
Biased - ANSWER-having a premeditated preference of something regardless of the
alternatives.
Economic Growth - ANSWER-an economy that is growing either from an increase in
social capitol or from an influx of resources.
Low inflation - ANSWER-a low rate of inflation or a low rate in the increase in market
prices.
Full employment - ANSWER-is desirable but difficult to achieve, typically a rate of 4-
5 percent is considered to be sufficient.
Questions and Answers
Spurious Relationship - ANSWER-when a relationship between two variables
appears to exist, due to the confounding presence of a third variable
Internal Validity - ANSWER-the likelihood or level of confidence that a casual
inference drawn from an analysis reflects the "true" underlying casual relationship
External Validity - ANSWER-whether the findings from a study based upon a sample
or an experiment can be extended or generalized to a larger population
Descriptive statistics - ANSWER-help describe both the average response and
dispersion of opinion around the average for a given population of stakeholders or
clientele
Correlation - ANSWER-tells us whether and how strongly two variables tend to co-
vary
Scientific uncertainty - ANSWER-process of estimating a precise expression of
uncertainty in some claim that derives primarily from three sources o =f error;
measurement error, random error, and sampling error
Random Error - ANSWER-the stochastic or random probability that some events are
simply not perfectly predictable
Population - ANSWER-entire set of individuals or cases with which an analyst is
interested in examining or learning about
Sample - ANSWER-subset of the population
Parameters - ANSWER-characteristics of the population
Hypothesis Testing - ANSWER-process in which scientists attempt to determine
whether sufficient evidence for the research hypothesis has been presented to reject
the null hypothesis
Observational Studies - ANSWER-compare the differences in Y between populations
that have X and those that do not have X
Ill-Informed Skepticism - ANSWER-disbelief or distrust in a scientific claim that is
based less upon rigorous evaluations of competing arguments and evidence and
more upon political orientation or vested interest
, Statistics - ANSWER-what is the measured value of 'X' using our sample population
Type I Error (false positive) - ANSWER-When one rejects a true null hypothesis,
then we say that an analyst has committed a particular type of a hypothesis testing
error
Type II Error (false negative) - ANSWER-When one accepts a false null hypothesis,
then we say that an analyst has committed a particular type of a hypothesis testing
error
Policy-Oriented Learning - ANSWER-when we observe coalitions members revising
their beliefs in the presence of new information
Counterfactual Outcome - ANSWER-how the experimental group would have
performed with a specific variable.
Ill informed adherence - ANSWER-the adoption of of or belief in a claim is based
less upon rigorous evaluations of competing arguments and evidence and more
upon political orientation or vested interest.
Factual Outcome - ANSWER-how the experimental group actually performed under
the given variables.
Selection effect - ANSWER-occurs when there is a non random selection of the
experimental and control groups and can lead to inaccurate data.
Minimum conditions (for drawing valid causal inferences) - ANSWER-To estimate a
valid causal inference with the classic experiment we must ensure that all other
variables that are correlated with both our treatment and our outcome are randomly
distributed across the groups.
Central Tendency - ANSWER-the most probable outcome.
Variations - ANSWER-a change or difference in condition, amount, or level, typically
with some limits.
Dispersion - ANSWER-the state of being dispersed over a certain area.
Biased - ANSWER-having a premeditated preference of something regardless of the
alternatives.
Economic Growth - ANSWER-an economy that is growing either from an increase in
social capitol or from an influx of resources.
Low inflation - ANSWER-a low rate of inflation or a low rate in the increase in market
prices.
Full employment - ANSWER-is desirable but difficult to achieve, typically a rate of 4-
5 percent is considered to be sufficient.
