6. 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
7. Major focus in Research Methods classes.
All research is only as good as its measurement
8. 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?
10. 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)
11. Four levels
• Nominal
• Ordinal
• Interval
• Ratio
The statistics we
choose for each
technique must be chosen according to the
scale of measurement of the variable
Need to recognize it instantly
12. All sciences depend on specific analytical methods.
Statistics is an integral part of many methods
13. Two variables are measured to determine the
strength and direction of their relationship.
14. Measure outcomes
Apply treatment to one
group, not to another
Statistics test whether
the differences
between
groups could happen by
random chance.
15. Independent variable is
manipulated by the experimenter
Dependent variable is the
outcome, also called the
control condition
Quasi-experiment = groups
are not equivalent
16. See Appendix A for more extensive Math Review.
Also “Purple Math” under Stats Success
17. Omnipresent
Work the TUTORIALS in
Aplia to gain efficiency
How does summation fit
into the Order of
Operations?
18. Parentheses
Exponents
(powers, roots)
Multiplication or
Division
SUMMATION
Addition or
Subtraction
19. Learn terms best
by using them in
meaningful work
Practice how to
apply definition,
not just memorize
Analyze research
you learn in other
courses
20. Look for as many hidden instances
of statistics as you can find before
the next class.
