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