1. Chapter 6: Becoming Acquainted with Statistical Concepts
SFM 651:
Research Methods
Dr. Johnson

2. What exactly are we talking about here?
An objective means of interpreting a collection of observations
Height vs standing long jump
Prove it
Using statistics

3. Types of equipment Hardware Software Physical things Programs Computer
Keyboard
Screen
Software
Programs
SPSS

4. T-test A statistical technique to assess differences between 2 groups
Is there a significant difference between these two things?

5. Sampling Random Stratified random Systematic Random assignment
Truly random pick of participants
Stratified random
Population divided into a characteristic (age)
Then random sampling of that group
Systematic
Select every XXX person on a list
Random assignment
Randomly assigning to a group

6. Unit of Analysis
Related to sampling and statistical analysis that refers to what is considered most basic unit from which data can be produced.
Individual participant
Class
School

7. Central tendencies Mean – Average score Median – middle score
Mode – most frequent score

8. Confidence Confidence interval – how sure are we that we are right
Standard error – variability in the sampling
Frequency distribution – representation of the frequencies and how often they occur (often visual – chart)

9. Non parametric – anything that isn’t parametric
Parametric – assumes normal distribution, equal variance and independence of observations
Can assume that future observations will fall in the given range.
Non parametric – anything that isn’t parametric