Chapter 1 Statistics Vocabulary

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observational study

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In epidemiology and statistics, an observational study draws inferences about the possible effect of a treatment on subjects, where the assignment of subjects into a treated group versus a control group is outside the control of the investigator. This is in contrast with experiments, such as randomized controlled trials, where each subject is randomly assigned to a treated group or a control group.

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experiment

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a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact:

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simulation

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Simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time.

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survey

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examine and record the area and features of (an area of land) so as to construct a map, plan, or description:

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confounding variable

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a confounding variable (also confounding factor, hidden variable, lurking variable, a confound, or confounder) is an extraneous variable in a statistical model that correlates (directly or inversely) with both the dependent variable and the independent variable.

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placebo effect

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a beneficial effect, produced by a placebo drug or treatment, that cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief

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blinding

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A blind experiment, in which the researcher is not aware of which data points were generated by an intervention

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double blind

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denoting a test or trial, esp. of a drug, in which any information that may influence the behavior of the tester or the subject is withheld until after the test.

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Randomization

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Selecting a random sample of a population (important in statistical sampling).

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randomized block design

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In the statistical theory of the design of experiments, blocking is the arranging of experimental units in groups (blocks) that are similar to one another.

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matched-pairs design

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..The design of an experiment for paired comparison in which the assignment of subjects to treatment or control is not completely at random, but the randomization is restricted to occur separately within each pair.

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replication

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.. replication is the repetition of an experimental condition so that the variability associated with the phenomenon can be estimated

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census

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an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals:

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sampling error

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..error in a statistical analysis arising from the unrepresentativeness of the sample taken.

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random sample

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.. sampling is concerned with the selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population.

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simple random sample

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.. a simple random sample is a subset of individuals (a sample) chosen from a larger set (a population)

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stratified sample

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..a sample that is drawn from a number of separate strata of the population, rather than at random from the whole population, in order that it should be representative.

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cluster sample

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..Cluster sampling is a sampling technique used when "natural" but relatively homogeneous groupings are evident in a statistical population

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systematic sample

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.Systematic sampling is a statistical method involving the selection of elements from an ordered sampling frame.

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convenience sample

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..Accidental sampling (sometimes known as grab, convenience sampling or opportunity sampling) is a type of non-probability sampling which involves the sample being drawn from that part of the population which is close to hand

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qualitative data

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.. levels of measurement or scales of measure are types of data that arise in the theory of scale types developed by the psychologist Stanley Smith Stevens. The types are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

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quantitative data

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..In statistics and quantitative research methodology, levels of measurement or scales of measure are types of data that arise in the theory of scale types developed by the psychologist Stanley Smith Stevens. The types are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

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Nominal level of measurement

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..The level of measurement that classifies variables by assigning names or categories that are mutually exclusive and exhaustive.

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ordinal level of measurement

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..The level of measurement that classifies variables by rank-ordering them from high to low or from most to least.

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ration level of measurement

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..The level of measurement that has a nonarbitrary, fixed zero point and classifies the values of a variable on an equally spaced continuum.

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statistics

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..the practice or science of collecting and analyzing numerical data in large quantities, esp. for the purpose of inferring proportions in a whole from those in a representative sample.

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data

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..facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. See also datum.

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population

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..all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country:

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sample

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.. small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like:

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parameter

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..a numerical or other measurable factor forming one of a set that defines a system or sets the conditions of its operation:

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statistic

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..a fact or piece of data from a study of a large quantity of numerical data:

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descriptive statistics

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..Descriptive statistics is the discipline of quantitatively describing the main features of a collection of information, or the quantitative description itself.

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inferential statistics

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..statistical inference is the process of drawing conclusions from data that are subject to random variation