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Basic Concepts in Statistics

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Terms in this set (10)

  • Population

    The entire set of units of interest in a study.

  • Sample

    A subset of units selected from the population.

  • Parameter

    A numerical characteristic describing the population (e.g., population mean).

  • Statistic

    A numerical characteristic describing the sample (e.g., sample mean).

  • Response Variable

    The variable of interest measured in a study.

  • Explanatory Variable

    A variable that explains changes in the response variable.

  • Observational Study

    Researchers do not impose conditions; they observe naturally occurring variables.

  • Experiment

    Researchers impose conditions to study effects.

  • Lurking Variable

    An unmeasured variable that may influence the interpretation of results.

  • Confounding

    Occurs when it is impossible to distinguish the effects of two variables on the response variable.