stats test 2

one characteristic of the standard deviation is that it can never be

a negative number

the three basic shapes a distribution can take are which of the following

a positive skew, negative skew, and normal

A very large variation ratio would be indicative of which of the following circumstances?

a vast majority of the cases outside the modal category

Continuous variables are represented by a distribution called the ____________.

normal curve

the ____ is the score that rests squarely in the middle of a distribution, with 50% falling above and 50% falling below

normal distribution

The basis of inferential statistics is ___________.

probability

What is the basis of inferential statistics?

probability

The logical premises that form a set of predictions about the likelihood of certain events or the empirical results that one would expect to see in an infinite set of trials is the definition of which of the following?

probability theory

The area under the curve in the standard normal curve represents ______.

proportions and probability

The mathematical expression "Xmax − Xmin" represents which of the following?

range

a _____ standard deviation would be indicated by a clustering of the raw values close to the mean of the distribution

small

The square root of the variance is known as the ______.

standard deviation

A probability is defined as ______.

the likelihood or chance that an event will occur

what is the definition of mode

the most frequently occurring score

In binomial probability theory, what does the symbol q represent?

the probability of a failure

What is at the heart of the binomial probability distribution?

the probability of success

Mathematically, "p(A)" indicates which of the following?

the probability that event A will occur

The Rule of the Complement maintains that ______.

the proportion of cases that are not in a certain category can be found by subtracting the proportion that is in that category from 1.00

A large variation ratio is an indication that the majority of cases are not in the modal category. (T/F)

true

Binomials are trials that have exactly two possible outcomes. (T/F)

true

It is important to remember when calculating the range that only the actual raw scores are used, not the frequencies of those scores. (T/F)

true

It is possible for one distribution to have a higher mean than a second distribution yet possess a smaller variance. (T/F)

true

The area of the normal curve is equal to 1.00. (T/F)

true

The characteristics that determine a normal curve's location on the number line and its shape are its mean and standard deviation. (T/F)

true

The rule of complement is based on the bounding rule. (T/F)

true

a positive deviation score indicates that the raw score upon which that deviation score is based is greater than the mean (T/F)

true

the mode requires no mathematical computation and can be used with any level of measurement (T/F)

true

S2 is the statistical symbol for ______.

variance

SPSS does not offer which of the following

variation ratios

In statistics, 0! equals ______.

1

The standard normal curve always has a mean of ______.

0

In SPSS, the range, variance, and standard deviation functions are located under the ______ formula tab.

analyze

in SPSS, both the descriptives and frequencies functions are located under the ___ header

analyze

there is a rule dictating that all proportions range from 0.00-1.00. what is the name of this rule

bounding rule

What did Paoline et al. find to be the most consistent predictors of stress and satisfaction in jail security staff in their 2006 study?

clear and fair policies and positive views towards coworkers

within a normal distribution, where would the most frequently occurring scores be located

directly in the middle of the curve

The amount of spread or variability among scores in a distribution is also referred to as which of the following?

dispersion

______ distributions are tangible.

empirical

An observed outcome is also known as what in scientific research?

empirical outcome

If a z-score is negative, then the area associated with that score will also be negative. (T/F)

false

One nuance of the z score is that it can never take on a negative value. (T/F)

false

The variance and range are considered the quintessential measures of dispersion. (T/F)

false

in a positively skewed distribution, the mean will be less than the median (T/F)

false

the mean is not affected by extremely high or extremely low scores (T/F)

false

the median is the simplest measure of central tendency (T/F)

false

one of the biggest disadvantages of the use of the median as a measure of central tendency is what

it fails to fully use all available data points

one disadvantage of using the range as a measure of dispersion is

it uses very little of the data in a distribution, therefore a researcher has no information regarding the shape of the distribution

the standard deviation is usually presented in conjunction with the ____ in the description of a continuous variable

mean

the symbol Md is often used by researchers to indicate what?

median

the symbol MP is often used by research scientists to denote which of the following

median position

the property of the mean that causes all deviation scores based on the mean to sum to zero is referred to by social scientists as what

midpoint of the magnitude

In order to calculate the variation ratio, what must first be identified?

mode

the ____ is the most frequently occurring score value, or category in a given data set

mode

the ____ is the only measure of central tendency available for use with nominal-level data

mode

what of the following requires no mathematical computation

mode

which of the following is the simplest measure

mode

which of the following measures of central tendency can be employed with any level of measurement

mode