KU POLS 306 Midterm Key Terms
Ecological fallacy
A formal fallacy in the interpretation of statistical data that occurs when inferences about the nature of individuals are deduced from inferences about the group to which those individuals belong
Sampling frame
A list of the items or people forming a population from which a sample is taken.
Cronbach's alpha
A measure of internal consistency, that is, how closely related a set of items are as a group
Controlled comparison
A method in which hypotheses are tested by comparing two or more populations that are similar or identical in most respects other than that which has been defined as the independent variable
Panel study
A particular design of longitudinal study in which the unit of analysis is followed at specified intervals over a long period, often many years
Resistant measure of central tendency
A statistic that is not affected by outliers (median)
Cross-sectional dataset
A type of data collected by observing many subjects at the one point or period of time
Cross-sectional study
A type of observational study that analyzes data from a population, or a representative subset, at a specific point in time
Sampling weights
Are positive values associated with the observations (rows) in your dataset (sample), used to ensure that metrics derived from a data set are representative of the population
Nominal-level variable
Are used to "name," or label a series of values
Split-half method
Assesses the internal consistency of a test. It measures the extent to which all parts of the test contribute equally to what is being measured. This is done by comparing the results of one half of a test with the results from the other half
Difference-in-differences DID design
Attempts to mimic an experimental research design using observational study data, by studying the differential effect of a treatment on a 'treatment group' versus a 'control group' in a natural experiment
Aggregate-level unit of analysis
Classified into two categories - Group (informally structured groups) and Organization (formally structured groups)
Automated content analysis
Collection of techniques used to analyze media content
Percentile
Each of the 100 equal groups into which a population can be divided
Random measurement error
Error that stems from fluctuation in the conditions within a system being measured which has nothing to do with the true signal being measured
Post hoc theorizing
Generating hypotheses based on data already observed, in the absence of testing them on new data
Cross-tabulation
Groups variables to understand the correlation between different variables
Central tendency
Is a central or typical value for a probability distribution
Likert scale
Is a five (or seven) point scale which is used to allow the individual to express how much they agree or disagree with a particular statement
Intervening variable
Is a hypothetical variable used to explain causal links between other variables
Spurious relationship
Is a mathematical relationship in which two or more events or variables are associated but not causally related, due to either coincidence or the presence of a certain third, unseen factor
Interquartile range
Is a measure of variability, based on dividing a data set into quartiles
Inductive reasoning
Is a method of reasoning in which the premises are viewed as supplying some evidence for the truth of the conclusion (little evidence to make broad conclusions)
Stratified random sample
Is a method of sampling that involves the division of a population into smaller sub-groups known as strata
Purposive sample
Is a non-probability sample that is selected based on characteristics of a population and the objective of the study
Bimodal distribution
Is a probability distribution with two different modes
Density plot
Is a representation of the distribution of a numeric variable (smoothed out histogram)
Network analysis
Is a set of integrated techniques to depict relations among actors and to analyze the social structures that emerge from the recurrence of these relations
Matching methods
Is a statistical technique which is used to evaluate the effect of a treatment by comparing the treated and the non-treated units in an observational study or quasi-experiment
Simple random sample
Is a subset of a statistical population in which each member of the subset has an equal probability of being chosen
Deterministic
Is a system in which no randomness is involved
Systematic sample
Is a type of probability sampling method in which sample members from a larger population are selected according to a random starting point but with a fixed, periodic interval
Curvilinear relationship
Is a type of relationship between two variables where as one variable increases, so does the other variable, but only up to a certain point, after which, as one variable continues to increase, the other decreases
Systematic measurement error
Is consistent, repeatable error associated with faulty equipment or a flawed experiment design
Raw frequency
Is just the plain number you observed in each class
Selection bias
Is the bias introduced by the selection of individuals, groups or data for analysis in such a way that proper randomization is not achieved
Internal validity
Is the extent to which a piece of evidence supports a claim about cause and effect, within the context of a particular study
P-hacking
Is the misuse of data analysis to find patterns in data that can be presented as statistically significant (finding something not there on purpose)
Deductive reasoning
Is the process of reasoning from one or more statements (premises) to reach a logically certain conclusion (lots of evidence to narrower conclusion)
Snowball sample
Is where research participants recruit other participants for a test or study
Rational actor
It assumes that the decision-maker is a rational person
Probabilistic
Subject to or involving chance variation
Partial relationship
Summarizes a relationship between two variables after taking into account rival variables
Hawthorne effect
The alteration of behavior by the subjects of a study due to their awareness of being observed
Face validity
The degree to which a procedure appears effective in terms of its stated aims
Construct validity
The degree to which a test measures what it claims, or purports, to be measuring
Interval-level variable
The order of values + the ability to quantify the difference between each one
Causal mechanism
The processes or pathways through which an outcome is brought into being
Cluster sample
The researcher divides the population into separate groups, called clusters. Then, a simple random sample of clusters is selected from the population
Direct relationship
When one variable increases so does the other or as one decreases so does the other
External validity
It is the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to and across other situations, people, stimuli, and times
Conceptual dimension
Meant to identify the breadth of the concept- inclusion, anticipation, responsiveness, and reflexivity
Test-retest method
Measures test consistency — the reliability of a test measured over time. In other words, give the same test twice to the same people at different times to see if the scores are the same
Conceptual question
Require a student to create an answer
Ordinal-level variable
Same as nominal except the order of the labels matter (agree to disagree scale)
Most different systems design
This method consists in comparing very different cases, all of which however have in common the same dependent variable, so that any other circumstance which is present in all the cases can be regarded as the independent variable
Most similar systems design
This method consists in comparing very similar cases which only differ in the dependent variable, on the assumption that this would make it easier to find those independent variables which explain the presence/absence of the dependent variable
Additive relationship
Two quantities can be expressed as related to each other through addition x + a(constant #)= y
Zero-order relationship
Uncontrolled relationship; an overall association between two variables that does not take into account other possible differences between the cases being studied
Alternative-form method
When an individual participating in a research or testing scenario is given two different versions of the same test at different times