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Quantitative Skills for AP Biology Flashcards

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5477700049hypothesisA plausible and testable explanation for observed phenomena.0
5477700050independent variableThe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.1
5477700051dependent variableThe variable that responds to manipulations of the independent variable. The data.2
5477700052confounding 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
5477700053quantitative dataData based on quantities (numerical data).4
5477700054qualitative dataData based on qualities (non-numerical data).5
5477700057control groupThe empirical group that does not receive the independent variable. Serves as a basis for comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.6
5477700058experimental groupThe empirical group that is exposed to the independent variable.7
5477700060pseudoscienceA body of ideas clothed in the jargon and outward appearance of science but was not created with the standards required of the scientific method.8
5477700062statisticsThe study of the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.9
5477700063population (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.10
5477700064sample (n)A subset of individuals selected from the population.11
5477700068normal distributionA unimodal, symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution of data.12
5477700074standard deviationA measurement measures the amount of variation or dispersion from the mean.13
5477700075standard errorA statistic used to make an inference about how well the sample mean matches up to the true population mean.14
5477700082meanA measure of central tendency determined by adding all scores together and dividing by the number of scores. Often referred to as the statistical average.15
5477700083samplingThe selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population.16
5477700085error barsA graphical representation of the variability of data and are used on graphs to indicate the error, or uncertainty in a reported measurement.17
5477700086medianA measure of central tendency, represented by the score that separates the upper half of the scores in a distribution from the lower half.18
5477700087modeMeasure of central tendency that refers to the most frequently occurring scores.19
5477700088Chi-square testA statistical hypothesis test that measures the difference between observed frequencies and expected frequencies.20
5477700089null hypothesisHypothesis that predicts NO relationship between variables.21
5477700090alternative hypothesisHypothesis that predicts a relationship DOES EXIST between variables.22
5477700091degrees freedomThe number of ways by which a dynamic system can move without violating any constraint imposed on it. (n-1)23
5477700092critical valueA cutoff value corresponding to a given significance level.24
5477700093p-valueA predetermined choice of test certainty. The smaller the p-value, the more confidence can be claimed.25
5477700094mathematical modellingA description of a system using mathematical concepts and language.26
5477700097Occam's razorA principle that states that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.27

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