Deck 7: Summarizing and Interpreting Data: Using Statistics

Question 1

In a research study the p value obtained for the inferential statistic is .08. This means that ______.

A) there is an 8% chance of obtaining these data when the null hypothesis is false
B) there is an 8% chance of obtaining these data when the null hypothesis is true
C) there is a 92% chance of obtaining these data when the null hypothesis is true
D) there is a 92% chance of obtaining these data when the null hypothesis is false

Answer 1

there is an 8% chance of obtaining these data when the null hypothesis is true

Question 2

If we retain the null hypothesis when it's really false, we have made a ______.

A) correct decision
B) Type I error
C) Type II error
D) Type I and Type II errors

Answer 2

Type II error

Question 3

The alternative hypothesis in this study is ______.

A) one-tailed
B) two-tailed
C) not testable
D) the same as the null hypothesis

Answer 3

two-tailed

Question 4

Based on the results reported above and an alpha level of .05, the ______ p value is possible for the test comparing the groups in this study.

A) .085
B) .85
C) 1.85
D) .008

Question 5

In inferential statistics, we look for evidence against the ______.

A) alternative hypothesis
B) scientific hypothesis
C) independent variable hypothesis
D) null hypothesis

Question 6

The ______ measure of variability indicates the average difference between the scores of a distribution and the mean of a distribution.

A) range
B) standard deviation
C) mode
D) median

Question 7

If we reject the null hypothesis when it's really true, we have made a ______.

A) correct decision
B) Type I error
C) Type II error
D) Type I and Type II errors

Question 8

The middle score in a distribution, such that half of the scores are above, and half are below that value, is the ______.

A) range
B) mean
C) mode
D) median

Question 9

Extreme high or low scores in a distribution are referred to as ______.

A) outliers
B) extremes
C) edges
D) limits

Question 10

A distribution is a(n) ______.

A) descriptive statistic
B) inferential statistic
C) value that represents a typical score
D) set of scores

Question 11

A(n) ______ hypothesis predicts no effect, whereas a(n) ______ hypothesis predicts an effect.

A) one-tailed; two-tailed
B) two-tailed; one-tailed
C) null; alternative
D) alternative; null

Question 12

A(n) ______ hypothesis predicts a directional effect, whereas a(n) ______ hypothesis predicts an effect in either direction.

A) one-tailed; two-tailed
B) two-tailed; one-tailed
C) null; alternative
D) alternative; null

Question 13

As researchers, we usually set alpha at .05 because ______.

A) this allows us to remove all error from our statistical test
B) this sets our Type I error rate at 5%
C) this sets our Type II error rate at 95%
D) this sets our Type I error rate at 95%

Question 14

The ______ indicates the most common score in a distribution.

A) range
B) standard deviation
C) mode
D) median

Question 15

If we find that an inferential test for an experiment is significant, this means that ______.

A) the condition means significantly differed
B) the null hypothesis should be accepted
C) the condition means did not differ
D) a Type I error has been made

Question 16

Of the following, ______ cannot explain the results of this study.

A) exercise decreases memory abilities
B) more subjects with better memory were assigned to the Sudoku group than the exercise group
C) subjects in the exercise group paid l attention to the study list than subjects in the Sudoku group
D) exercise increases memory abilities

Question 17

The decision to reject the null hypothesis in a statistical test is made when ______.

A) the researcher cannot conclude that the null is true
B) p < alpha
C) p > alpha
D) the researcher initially sets the alpha level

Question 18

The ______ statistics summarize a distribution, while the ______ statistics provide a test of the hypothesis.

A) central; variability
B) variability; central
C) inferential; descriptive
D) descriptive; inferential

Question 19

The most common score in a distribution is the ______.

A) range
B) mean
C) mode
D) median

Question 20

The calculated average of the scores in a distribution is the ______.

A) range
B) mean
C) mode
D) median

Question 21

A graph of the means for different conditions in a study where the bar height represents the size of the mean is called a ______.

A) frequency distribution
B) line graph
C) scatterplot
D) bar graph

Question 22

The null hypothesis is the opposite hypothesis to the scientific or alternative hypothesis.

Question 23

High or low extreme scores pull the ______ toward the top or bottom of the distribution's range.

A) mean
B) range
C) mode
D) median

Question 24

Three basic measures are commonly used to indicate the central tendency of a distribution including all but ______.

A) mean
B) correlation
C) mode
D) median

Question 25

There are three main categories of descriptive statistics that help researchers summarize data including all but ______.

A) graphs/tables
B) central tendency
C) variability
D) hypotheses

Question 26

A graph of a distribution showing the frequency of each response in the distribution is called a ______.

A) frequency distribution
B) line graph
C) scatterplot
D) bar graph

Question 27

The measurement of the length of time to complete a task is called ______.

A) completion time
B) reaction time
C) task completion time
D) finishing time

Question 28

The number of scores that can vary in the calculation of a statistic is called the ______.

A) mean
B) range
C) degrees of freedom
D) variance

Question 29

A graph of the means for different conditions in a study where the bar length represents the size of the mean is a bar graph.

Question 30

The ______ is the most commonly reported measure of central tendency.

A) mean
B) range
C) mode
D) median

Question 31

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution is the ______.

A) range
B) mean
C) mode
D) median

Question 32

The ______ ignores all the scores between the most extreme scores and therefore is a crude measure of variability.

A) mean
B) range
C) standard deviation
D) variance

Question 33

The ______ is the most basic measure.

A) mean
B) range
C) standard deviation
D) variance

Question 34

A graph of the means for different conditions in a study where each mean is graphed as a point and the points are connected in a line to show differences between mean scores is called a ______.

A) frequency distribution
B) line graph
C) scatterplot
D) bar graph

Question 35

In simple terms the null hypothesis is that a relationship ______ in the study population.

A) is weak
B) is not significant
C) does not exist
D) does not merit review

Question 36

"In the general population, older individuals have lower memory scores than younger individuals." is a ______ hypothesis.

A) null
B) two-tailed
C) one-tailed
D) untestable

Question 37

The ______ is determined by calculating the difference between each score and the mean, squaring those values, adding them up, and dividing by n-1.

A) mean
B) range
C) standard deviation
D) variance

Question 38

When a distribution includes several outliers, researchers often report the ______ in addition to or instead of the mean.

A) distribution
B) range
C) mode
D) median

Question 39

For correlational studies with a predictor and outcome, the predictor variable is typically plotted on the ______.

A) y-axis
B) z-axis
C) x-axis
D) vertical

Question 40

A graph showing the relationship between two dependent variables for a group of individuals is called a ______.

A) frequency distribution
B) line graph
C) scatterplot
D) bar graph

Question 41

A researcher is conducting a study to test the hypothesis that viewing family photos (as compared with viewing photos of strangers) prompts more autobiographical memories. State the null and alternative hypotheses for this study.

Question 42

The degree of freedom is the most commonly reported measure of central tendency.

Question 43

A graph of the means for different conditions in a study where each mean is graphed as a point and the points are connected in a line to show differences between mean scores is a line graph.

Question 44

If the p value is more than alpha, the test is said to be significant.

Question 45

Two-tailed hypotheses are typically made only when a researcher has a logical reason to believe that one particular direction of the effect will occur.

Question 46

Suppose that in reality the null hypothesis is true for this effect. In this case, what type of decision has been made in the above statement (correct, Type I error, or Type II error)?

Question 47

Discuss why it is important to summarize what a study's data contain before trying to analyze if the sample is representative and our hypothesis supported.

Question 48

The distribution of sample means is used to determine how likely it is that any sample mean will occur for a population.

Question 49

In the distribution of scores, 3, 8, 5, 9, 20, 4, the score "20" is an outlier.

Question 50

A Type II error is an error made in a significance test when the researcher fails to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually false.

Question 51

The critical region is the most extreme portion of a distribution of statistical values for the null hypothesis determined by the alpha level.

Question 52

The basic measures of central tendency of a distribution are: the mean, the median, and the range.

Question 53

Explain why it is necessary to set an alpha level of an inferential test.

Question 54

For the study above, suppose the test to compare the conditions resulted in a p value of .037. What decision should the researcher make in this case?

Question 55

What does the p value in an inferential test represent?

Question 56

A Type II error is an error made in a significance test when the researcher rejects the null hypothesis when it is actually true.

Question 57

Reaction-time distributions typically include scores that are clustered around an average score that represents the typical speed of response.

Question 58

For correlational studies with a predictor and outcome, the outcome variable is typically plotted on the x-axis.

Question 59

One way that researchers sometimes estimate the population mean from the sample mean is with a confidence interval.

Question 60

Correlation indicates a typical score in the distribution of collected scores.