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Quantitative Skills for AP Biology_JR Flashcards

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7194774499hypothesisA plausible and testable explanation for observed phenomena.0
7194774500independent variableThe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.1
7194774501dependent variableThe variable that responds to manipulations of the independent variable. The data.2
7194774502confounding 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
7194774503quantitative dataData based on quantities (numerical data).4
7194774504qualitative dataData based on qualities (non-numerical data).5
7194774505continuous dataData that can be any value on a range.6
7194774506discrete dataData that is capable of assuming only particular values. Usually the result of counting or grouping.7
7194774507control groupThe empirical group that does not receive the independent variable. Serves as a basis for comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.8
7194774508experimental groupThe empirical group that is exposed to the independent variable.9
7194774509correlational 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
7194774510pseudoscienceA 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
7194774511extrapolationEstimating a value outside the range of measured data.12
7194774512statisticsThe study of the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.13
7194774513population (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
7194774514sample (n)A subset of individuals selected from the population.15
7194774515descriptive statisticsStatistics that quantitatively describe the main features of a data set, especially measures of central tendency and dispersion.16
7194774516inferential statisticsStatistics that draw conclusions from sample data. Used to test hypotheses and make estimations about the population.17
7194774517sampling biasA problem that occurs when a sample is not representative of the population from which it is drawn.18
7194774518normal distributionA unimodal, symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution of data.19
7194774519parametric dataData that show an approximate normal distribution on a histogram.20
7194774520nonparametric dataData that do not show an approximate normal distribution on a histogram. Can be qualitative data.21
7194774521frequency or count dataRecordings of discrete, or qualitative, data. Generated by counting.22
7194774522comparative statisticsStatistics that compare variables.23
7194774523association statisticsStatistics that look for correlations between variables.24
7194774524standard deviationA measurement measures the amount of variation or dispersion from the mean.25
7194774525standard errorA statistic used to make an inference about how well the sample mean matches up to the true population mean.26
7194774526linear regressionDefines a line of best fit for correlational data that can be used as a prediction of the relationship between two variables.27
7194774527histogramA graphical representation of tabulated frequencies.28
7194774528scatterplotA graph of plotted points that show the relationship between two sets of data.29
7194774529bar graphA graph drawn using rectangular bars to show how large each value is.30
7194774530box-and-whisker plotsA way of graphically depicting groups of numerical data through their quartiles.31
7194774531binsRanges of numerical values into which data are sorted in statistical analysis.32
7194774532meanA 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
7194774533samplingThe selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population.34
719477453468-95-99.7 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
7194774535error barsA graphical representation of the variability of data and are used on graphs to indicate the error, or uncertainty in a reported measurement.36
7194774536medianA measure of central tendency, represented by the score that separates the upper half of the scores in a distribution from the lower half.37
7194774537modeMeasure of central tendency that refers to the most frequently occurring scores.38
7194774538Chi-square testA statistical hypothesis test that measures the difference between observed frequencies and expected frequencies.39
7194774539null hypothesisHypothesis that predicts NO relationship between variables.40
7194774540alternative hypothesisHypothesis that predicts a relationship DOES EXIST between variables.41
7194774541degrees freedomThe number of ways by which a dynamic system can move without violating any constraint imposed on it. (n-1)42
7194774542critical valueA cutoff value corresponding to a given significance level.43
7194774543p-valueA predetermined choice of test certainty. The smaller the p-value, the more confidence can be claimed.44
7194774544mathematical modellingA description of a system using mathematical concepts and language.45
7194774545r-valueThe correlation coefficient that ranges from -1.0 to +1.0. The closer it is to 0, the less two variables are related.46
7194774546hypothesis 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
7194774547Occam's razorA principle that states that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.48
7194774548type I errorFalse positive. Mistakenly reject the null hypothesis.49
7194774549type II errorFalse negative. Mistakenly reject the null hypothesis.50

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