chapter 1. page 2 math anxiety do not flip through the text familiarize yourself with the index...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 1
Page 2
Math Anxiety
• Do not flip through the text• Familiarize yourself with the index & glossary• Forget past math failures…statistics is different!• Yerkes-Dodson Law: Some anxiety is helpful• Over-prepare for tests to reduce test anxiety• Use your resources! • Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: think positive• Work with a partner! Icebreaker activity
Page 3
Uses of Statistics
Statistics: branch of mathematics that focuses on the organization, analysis & interpretation of a group of numbers.
Uses: -read the work of other psychologists -do your own research -hone your reasoning & intuition
Page 4
Misuses of Statistics
Using Correlations to infer causation
Incorrect Interpretation of Data
Page 5
Calculator Use
Page 6
Descriptive vs. Inferential Statistics
• Descriptive statistics Summarize/organize scores from a research study Abbreviates data that we have Includes percentage, range, mean, mode, median, standard deviation and variance EX: What’s the average age of students in this class? Ask each student & average
• Inferential statistics Draw conclusions/make inferences that go beyond the scores from a research study
-allows statisticians to generalize from a sample to a population Uses a small amount of data to infer characteristics about a larger group EX: What’s the average age of students at SBVC? Ask this class & then infer about SBVC RISKY! Especially if the sample is not representative of the population However, predictions are made with better than chance accuracy & limitations are known
Page 7
Samples & Populations
Population: the entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is interested in
Sample: a smaller number of observations taken from the total number making up the population
Page 8
Inferential statistics is the technique of
predicting unknown
parameters (of a population) on the
basis of known statistics (from a
sample).
Statistics & Parameters
Parameter: any measure obtained by having measured an entire population
Statistic: any measure obtained by having measured a sample