Descriptive Statistics
What are the four types of descriptive statistics?
What are;
1. Summaries of Data
2. Measures of Central Tendency
3. Measures of Variation/Dispersion
4. Measures of Position
A parametric t-test requires what level of measurement for the independent and dependent variable.
What is a nominal(categorical) independent variable and a dependent variable that is interval/ratio (continuous).
We reject the null hypothesis when what happens? What does this value indicate?
If p > alpha (.05) we reject the null. The p value refers to the probability that the null is true (no significance exists).
Consistency and precision refer to this fundamental concept of research
What is reliability
The objective of qualitative research is...
to understand and describe phenomena
This type of descriptive statistic refers to how values in the data vary and how that data is spread out
What is measures of variation/dispersion
How do inferential statistics differ from descriptive statistics? What is the relationship between descriptive and inferential statistics?
Inferential statistics are used to make estimations about the target population using data collected from sample population.
Descriptive statistics can be used within inferential analyses (means, standard deviations, etc.) along with allowing researchers to assess basic assumptions and better contextualize their results.
What are the steps to NHST?
1. State hypothesis
2. Set alpha & determine test procedure
3. Determine sample size
4. Sample population
5. Analyze results
6. Decision on Null
7. Statement of findings/conclusion
Consistency across ratings from the same researchers refers to this type of reliability.
What is intra-rater.
This type of trustworthiness refers to the potential for the results of a study to be applied to a larger population. How do researchers ensure this?
What is transferability. Utilizing broader inclusion criteria, and providing thick and rich descriptions of data and themes.
Outliers are statistically defined as falling beyond how many standard deviations of the mean?
A researcher runs a repeated measures t-test on basketball players jump height values in order to compare pre-season performance to post. She determines a significant difference between the scores, with post-season values being greater. Her Cohen's D = .15, interpret this value an indicate what type of statistic this value refers to.
What is a small effect, the difference between groups may be statistically significant but lack practical difference between each other.
This is an example of WHAT type of hypothesis : "No significant mean difference will be found between Division 2 male soccer and basketball athletes in a maximum jump height test."
What is a statistical hypothesis
A researcher is writing a survey to assess athlete's attitudes towards coaching styles. He thoroughly researchers coaching styles to ensure that he includes ALL styles and behaviors in his questionnaire. What type of reliability or validity is he trying to support?
What is content validity?
What are the three limitations of qualitative research?
Lack generalizability, potential researcher bias, and time consuming data collection and analysis
Give the definitions of both standard deviation and variance. Then explain the difference between the two.
Standard Deviation is reported in the unit of measure, Variance squares SD in order to compare this dispersion across units of measure
An alpha level refers to what within the bounds of a study. Additionally, this alpha level is most commonly used in human subjects research.
What is the amount of error the researchers are willing to allow within their study (used to determine statistical significance) and .05
Homogeneity = variance of DV scores are essentially similarly distributed
Heterogeneity = variance of DV scores are NOT similar
A Levene's test that is non-significant indicating homogeneity which makes it possible to compare groups (since they behave similarly)
What is internal consistency?
A researcher want to ensure that the findings of their study on athlete's perception of team cohesion during championships have merit. The researcher employs multiple coders for their analysis, and holds meetings between coders to discuss disagreements and unite findings. The researcher records not only the audio but the body language of participants in interviews, along with transcribing their written words. He also compares contradicting accounts and highlights the differences in opinions by providing potential contextual information as to why they differ. Finally, the researcher asks the interviewees to confirm their perspectives when he feels like there may potential for misunderstanding. What type of trustworthiness is the researcher pursuing and what methods is he utilizing to do so?
What is credibility. Using triangulation, peer debriefing, negative case analysis, and member checking.
A researcher collected 20 high school boys soccer players’ scores on a mental toughness scale (0–100).
Results: Mean = 74 Median = 78 Mode = 80
Range = 50–95 SD = 12 Skewness = -0.7
Identify the types of descriptives present in this example. Then make one meaningful observation based on the data.
What are summaries of data : sample size; central tendency: Mean, Median, Mode, Skewness; and variation: Range, SD.
Interpretations scored based on answer.
A. This research question will use what type of inferential statistical analysis. What does the test statistic in this analysis indicate?
What is the relationship between lower limb strength and jump height?
What is correlation. What is a correlation coefficient (r), which indicates strength (closer to 1 = stronger) and direction (positive = same direction; negative = opposite direction change).
A research is comparing the max bench press scores between college swimmers and wrestlers. Provide a statement of findings for the following values;
Wrestlers (n = 15): Mean = 215, Standard Deviation = 14
Swimmers (n = 15): Mean = 197, Standard Deviation = 12
T = 4.83, p = .03
Wrestlers (M = 215, SD = 14) were found to product significantly higher max bench press scores than swimmers (M = 197, SD = 12), t(29) = 4.83, p = .03
A study examining the effect of a new reaction-time training program on soccer players’ decision-making speed. Players completed a pre-test and post-test of drills that tested their decision-making over several weeks, number of correct/incorrect decisions were recorded. However, the drills were identical each session, allowing the participants to become familiar with the appropriate decisions. All tests were conducted at the same time of day, using identical instructions. The program was carried out in the team’s indoor practice facility on turf, but the training procedures and testing materials were carefully documented so that researchers could replicate the study in different locations.
What threat to internal validity is present in this example, what threat to external validity is present? What methods did the research employ to ensure internal and external validity?
What is the internal validity threat of testing (players become familiar with the correct answers) and interaction of treatment with setting (all tests took place on turf field limiting generalizability). Researchers ensured internal validity by utilizing a repeated measures design, valid/reliable measuring tools, and consistent timing of measurement. Researchers ensured external validity by providing clear instructions for replication of their results.
A group of researchers wanted to understand how collegiate swimmers experience motivation during tapering weeks before competition. They conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 swimmers over a four-week period and audio-recorded each session. The recordings were transcribed and coded to identify recurring themes related to training mindset, confidence, and coping strategies. To ensure the findings were reliable, the researchers documented their coding process carefully, compared codes among team members, and allowed participants to review their transcripts for accuracy. The study was carried out at the swimmers’ regular training facility, and detailed notes were taken to make sure another researcher could replicate the procedures in a similar context.
Indicate the study design, analysis, threats to trustworthiness and authenticity and what the researchers did to combat those threats.
Design: phenomenological
Analysis : thematic
Trustworthiness : researcher bias - documented coding carefully
Authenticity: Accuracy of interpretations of participants responses - member checking