Keyboard shortcuts

Go home G then H
Browse sets G then B
Create set G then C
My library G then L
Show shortcuts ?
Go back Swipe from left edge
Library

STA 115 pt. 1

O
oakaydokay1111 48 terms May 12, 2026
Flashcards
Learn
Written
Match
Test
Blitz

Terms 48

1
Individuals
The objects described by a set of data, which can be people, animals, places, organizations, or things.
2
Variable
A characteristic of an individual that is measured or recorded.
3
Categorical variable
A variable whose values are labels or descriptions rather than meaningful numbers.
4
Numerical variable
A variable whose values are numbers for which arithmetic operations make sense.
5
Observational study
A study that collects data without imposing any treatment.
6
Experiment
A study that actively imposes a treatment on individuals and observes the response.
7
Population
The entire group of individuals we want to draw conclusions about.
8
Sample
A subset of the population from which data are actually collected.
9
Sample survey
An observational study using data from a sample to draw conclusions about the population.
10
Census
An attempt to collect data from every individual in the population.
11
Sampling bias
A systematic tendency of a sampling method to over- or under-represent certain parts of the population.
12
Convenience sampling
A biased method where researchers choose respondents based on ease of access.
13
Voluntary response
A biased method where individuals self-select into a sample.
14
Simple Random Sample
A sample of size n where every possible set of n individuals is equally likely to be chosen.
15
Table of random digits
A tool for selecting random samples.
16
Parameter
A number that describes a characteristic of the entire population.
17
Statistic
A number calculated from a sample that estimates a population parameter.
18
Population proportion
The parameter giving the fraction of the entire population in a certain category.
19
Sample proportion
The statistic giving the fraction of the sample in a certain category.
20
Bias (sampling)
A systematic tendency for the statistic to consistently over- or under-estimate the parameter.
21
Variability
How much a statistic changes across different samples from the same population.
22
Margin of error
How much the statistic could differ from the parameter.
23
Confidence interval
A range of values from sample data that likely contains the true population parameter.
24
Confidence level
The percentage of times a CI method captures the true parameter if repeated many times.
25
Sampling frame
The list of individuals from which a sample is drawn.
26
Undercoverage
A frame error where some population members have no chance of being sampled.
27
Erroneous inclusion
A frame error where individuals outside the target population end up in the sample.
28
Multiple inclusion
A frame error where the same individual appears in the sample more than once.
29
Processing error
Non-sampling error where researchers incorrectly record or calculate responses.
30
Response error
Non-sampling error where respondents give incorrect answers.
31
Non-response
Non-sampling error where sampled individuals do not respond.
32
Stratified sampling
A method that divides the population into strata then takes a separate random sample within each.
33
Strata
Groups formed in stratified sampling where individuals within each group share a characteristic likely to affect the outcome.
34
Wording bias
Bias from vague or leading survey questions that push respondents toward certain answers.
35
Weighted average
An average that accounts for different group sizes.
36
Response variable
The variable measuring the outcome of a study.
37
Explanatory variable
The variable believed to cause or predict differences in the response variable.
38
Subjects
The individuals studied in an experiment.
39
Treatment
Any experimental condition applied to subjects.
40
Lurking variable
An unmeasured variable with an important effect on the response.
41
Confounding
When two variables' effects on the response cannot be distinguished from each other.
42
Control group
The group receiving no treatment or a placebo, used as a baseline for comparison.
43
Experimental group
The group(s) receiving the actual treatment being studied.
44
Double-blind
Neither subjects nor researchers know who receives which treatment.
45
Single-blind
Researchers know which treatment subjects receive, but subjects do not.
46
Placebo effect
Real improvements experienced from a dummy treatment because subjects believe they are being treated.
47
Randomized comparative experiment
An experiment where subjects are randomly assigned to treatment groups.
48
Statistical significance
A result is statistically significant when it is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone.