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Quantitative Skills for AP Biology Flashcards

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6247534308hypothesisA plausible and testable explanation for observed phenomena.0
6247534309independent variableThe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.1
6247534310dependent variableThe variable that responds to manipulations of the independent variable. The data.2
6247534311confounding variableAny extraneous variable that affects the variables being studied so that the results do not reflect an actual relationship between the variables under investigation.3
6247534312quantitative dataData based on quantities (numerical data).4
6247534313qualitative dataData based on qualities (non-numerical data).5
6247534314continuous dataData that can be any value on a range.6
6247534315discrete dataData that is capable of assuming only particular values. Usually the result of counting or grouping.7
6247534316control groupThe empirical group that does not receive the independent variable. Serves as a basis for comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.8
6247534317experimental groupThe empirical group that is exposed to the independent variable.9
6247534318correlational studyA research method that can determine the degree to which two variables are related, but cannot show which variable caused a change in the other variable.10
6247534319pseudoscienceA body of ideas clothed in the jargon and outward appearance of science but was not created with the standards required of the scientific method.11
6247534320extrapolationEstimating a value outside the range of measured data.12
6247534321statisticsThe study of the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.13
6247534322population (N)A complete set of items (people, animals, etc.) that have at least one thing in common and are the subject of the statistical analysis.14
6247534323sample (n)A subset of individuals selected from the population.15
6247534324descriptive statisticsStatistics that quantitatively describe the main features of a data set, especially measures of central tendency and dispersion.16
6247534325inferential statisticsStatistics that draw conclusions from sample data. Used to test hypotheses and make estimations about the population.17
6247534326sampling biasA problem that occurs when a sample is not representative of the population from which it is drawn.18
6247534327normal distributionA unimodal, symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution of data.19
6247534328parametric dataData that show an approximate normal distribution on a histogram.20
6247534329nonparametric dataData that do not show an approximate normal distribution on a histogram. Can be qualitative data.21
6247534330frequency or count dataRecordings of discrete, or qualitative, data. Generated by counting.22
6247534331comparative statisticsStatistics that compare variables.23
6247534332association statisticsStatistics that look for correlations between variables.24
6247534333standard deviationA measurement measures the amount of variation or dispersion from the mean.25
6247534334standard errorA statistic used to make an inference about how well the sample mean matches up to the true population mean.26
6247534335linear regressionDefines a line of best fit for correlational data that can be used as a prediction of the relationship between two variables.27
6247534336histogramA graphical representation of tabulated frequencies.28
6247534337scatterplotA graph of plotted points that show the relationship between two sets of data.29
6247534338bar graphA graph drawn using rectangular bars to show how large each value is.30
6247534339box-and-whisker plotsA way of graphically depicting groups of numerical data through their quartiles.31
6247534340binsRanges of numerical values into which data are sorted in statistical analysis.32
6247534341meanA measure of central tendency determined by adding all scores together and dividing by the number of scores. Often referred to as the statistical average.33
6247534342samplingThe selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population.34
624753434368-95-99.7 RuleIn a normal distribution, about 68% of values fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean, about 95% fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean, and about 99.7% fall within 3 standard deviations of the mean.35
6247534344error barsA graphical representation of the variability of data and are used on graphs to indicate the error, or uncertainty in a reported measurement.36
6247534345medianA measure of central tendency, represented by the score that separates the upper half of the scores in a distribution from the lower half.37
6247534346modeMeasure of central tendency that refers to the most frequently occurring scores.38
6247534347Chi-square testA statistical hypothesis test that measures the difference between observed frequencies and expected frequencies.39
6247534348null hypothesisHypothesis that predicts NO relationship between variables.40
6247534349alternative hypothesisHypothesis that predicts a relationship DOES EXIST between variables.41
6247534350degrees freedomThe number of ways by which a dynamic system can move without violating any constraint imposed on it. (n-1)42
6247534351critical valueA cutoff value corresponding to a given significance level.43
6247534352p-valueA predetermined choice of test certainty. The smaller the p-value, the more confidence can be claimed.44
6247534353mathematical modellingA description of a system using mathematical concepts and language.45
6247534354r-valueThe correlation coefficient that ranges from -1.0 to +1.0. The closer it is to 0, the less two variables are related.46
6247534355hypothesis testingA method of statistical inference that determines if a result is statistically significant or if it is likely to have occurred by chance alone.47
6247534356Occam's razorA principle that states that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.48
6247534357type I errorFalse positive. Mistakenly reject the null hypothesis.49
6247534358type II errorFalse negative. Mistakenly reject the null hypothesis.50

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