introduction to statistics
DESCRIPTION
Ignite! style slides for Chapter 01 of introductory statistics textTRANSCRIPT
What is Statistics All About, Anyway?Chapter 1: Terminology, Methods, Math
STATISTICS?
Statistics
Statistics
Describe
Graphs Table Number
Infer
Estimate Test
Who do we study? Samples!Who are we interested in? Population!
Who do we study? Samples!Who are we interested in? Population!
Statistic = Measured on the sample
Parameter = characteristic of the population
What do we measure? Variables!
Trait or characteristic • Possibility of more
than one value: it varies
• Values = the possible outcomes of variable
• Measured for each case (individual) in sample
Usually many variables are measured
MEASUREMENTMajor focus in Research Methods classes.
All research is only as good as its measurement
Measurement Interested in abstract concepts =
constructs• Love, happiness, success, effectiveness• Depression, risk, poverty, hatred,
alienation• Birth rate, foreclosure rate
Operational definition• What indicates the presence
of love, risk, or success?• Exactly what procedures do
we use to measure it?
Discrete vs Continuous Variables
COUNTABLE = discrete
FLOWING = continuous
REAL LIMITS
Assign a number to location on the continuum.
The number is not exact (e.g., 2.4)
Refers to a range of values (here, 2.35 to 2.45)
Level (Scale) of Measurement
Four levels• Nominal• Ordinal• Interval• Ratio
The statistics wechoose for eachtechnique must be chosen according to the scale of measurement of the variable
Need to recognize it instantly
RESEARCH METHODSAll sciences depend on specific analytical methods.Statistics is an integral part of many methods
Correlational MethodsTwo variables are measured to determine the strength and direction of their relationship.
Experimental Method Measure outcomes Apply treatment to one
group, not to another Statistics test whether
the differences between groups could happen by random chance.
Independent and Dependent Variables
Independent variable is manipulated by the experimenter
Dependent variable is the outcome, also called the control condition
Quasi-experiment = groups are not equivalent
MATH NOTATION & REVIEWSee Appendix A for more extensive Math Review.Also “Purple Math” under Stats Success
Summation Notation Omnipresent
Work the TUTORIALS in Aplia to gain efficiency
How does summation fit into the Order of Operations?
Order of Operations
Parentheses Exponents
(powers, roots) Multiplication
or Division SUMMATION Addition or
Subtraction
Statistics as a Second Language
Learn terms best by using them in meaningful work
Practice how to apply definition, not just memorize
Analyze research you learn in other courses
What is Statistics All About, Anyway?Look for as many hidden instances of statistics as you can find before the next class.