Deck 11: Data Analysis

Question 1

Descriptive statistics are used to:

A) characterizing the qualities of a sample
B) infer the qualities of a population
C) make decisions
D) none of the above

Answer 1

characterizing the qualities of a sample

Question 2

Inferential statistics are used to:

A) characterizing the qualities of a sample
B) infer the qualities of a population
C) make decisions
D) none of the above

Answer 2

infer the qualities of a population

Question 3

The statistical average of collection of observations is called a:

A) mean
B) mode
C) median
D) none of the above

Answer 3

mean

Question 4

The statistic that is used to divide a data distribution in half is called a:

A) mean
B) mode
C) median
D) none of the above

Question 5

The most beneficial or useful indicator of variability is the:

A) variance
B) standard deviation
C) range
D) all of the above

Question 6

A researcher can try to enhance an experiment's power by:

A) controlling random variables insofar as is possible
B) using especially sensitive dependent variables
C) making the independent variable stand out
D) all of the above

Question 7

The t test is used to determine whether the mean of one group is different from the mean of the means in two other groups simultaneously.

Question 8

It is not appropriate to describe a statistical difference between means as "highly significant."

Question 9

In social psychology, the minimally acceptable level of significance for rejecting the null hypothesis is:

A) .05
B) .01
C) .001
D) .005

Question 10

What are descriptive statistics? How do they differ from inferential statistics?

Question 11

Explain the distinctions among the mean, the mode, and the median as descriptive statistics.

Question 12

Explain why the standard deviation is usually the best statistic for characterizing variability.

Question 13

What is a correlation? Provide an example of a positive correlation and a negative correlation.

Question 14

What s statistical power? Discuss some ways that an investigator can enhance the power in an experiment.

Question 15

Offer a rationale for why a social psychologist should always plan data analyses in advance of data collection.

Question 16

Explain the proper use of the word "significant" in the context of a successful experiment in social psychology.

Question 17

Is there a proper way to report the results of a social psychology study? Explain the guiding principle that careful and thoughtful researchers use.

Question 18

What does the acronym MAGIC mean when evaluating and writing about research results?

Question 19

Using your own example and words, describe a main effect found between two levels of an independent variable.

Question 20

Using your own example and words, describe an interaction found between two independent variables.

Question 21

Social psychology experiments do not always "work", that is, they do not disclose desired results. How can a social psychologist learn from failures as well as successes?

Question 22

Why do good researchers write results so that statistically less sophisticated readers can understand the findings as well as fellow researchers and students?

Question 23

In your view, what role do statistics and data analysis play in social psychological research?