Psy 232 Class notes outline -- Review from Psy 231

Goal of descriptive stats: simplify the organization & presentation of data
Several techniques for this:

Distributions – either in tables or graphs – are very common tools for simplifying
 
The normal distribution

Central tendency

Variability

Standardized distributions & z-scores
   sign of score =
   numerical value of score =
   mean & sd of z-distribution =

Correlation -- describes but does not explain a relation; i.e., NO "causal" claims 
   Three characteristics of a correlation:
    Four common uses of correlation
    Kinds of corr  –
    Effect size: r²  –

Regression
   Predicting specific scores:
   Standard error of estimate:
   Partitioning the variance:

Variables
   Independent & Dependent     

Validity
   Internal -- External

Reliability