Research Vocabulary

#301

descriptive statistics

Example sentences

1. The report uses descriptive statistics to summarize ages and test scores.
2. Descriptive statistics include measures such as the mean and range.
3. The analyst presented the descriptive statistics before the main tests.

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#302

inferential statistics

Example sentences

1. The researchers used inferential statistics to draw conclusions from the sample.
2. Inferential statistics helped the team compare the two groups.
3. The course explains when inferential statistics are appropriate.

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#303

parameter

Example sentences

1. The population mean is one example of a parameter.
2. The researchers estimated the parameter from the sample data.
3. A parameter describes a feature of the whole population.

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#304

statistic

Example sentences

1. The sample mean is a statistic calculated from the collected data.
2. The report presents each important statistic in a table.
3. The analyst checked the statistic before sharing the results.

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#305

frequency

Example sentences

1. The frequency shows how often each answer appeared.
2. The table gives the frequency of visits for each age group.
3. The analyst counted the frequency before creating the chart.

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#306

distribution

Example sentences

1. The distribution shows how the values are spread across the dataset.
2. The analyst examined the distribution before choosing a statistical test.
3. A graph made the distribution easier to understand.

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#307

normal distribution

Example sentences

1. The test scores followed a normal distribution.
2. A normal distribution has most values near the center.
3. The analyst checked for a normal distribution before using the test.

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#308

skewness

Example sentences

1. The positive skewness showed a long tail on the right side.
2. The analyst checked skewness before using a parametric test.
3. High skewness may mean that the data are not normally distributed.

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#309

kurtosis

Example sentences

1. Kurtosis describes the shape of the distribution and its tails.
2. The software reported kurtosis for each continuous variable.
3. The analyst examined kurtosis together with skewness.

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#310

central tendency

Example sentences

1. The mean, median, and mode are measures of central tendency.
2. Central tendency gives one value that represents the center of the data.
3. The report used two measures of central tendency.

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#311

mean

Example sentences

1. The mean age of the participants was 34 years.
2. The analyst added all scores and divided by the number of scores to find the mean.
3. One very high value can change the mean.

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#312

median

Example sentences

1. The median income was $600 per month.
2. The median is the middle value after the numbers are ordered.
3. The team used the median because the data had a few very high values.

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#313

mode

Example sentences

1. The mode was blue because it was the most common answer.
2. A dataset can have more than one mode.
3. The analyst reported the mode for the category data.

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#314

range

Example sentences

1. The age range was 18 to 65 years.
2. The analyst found the range by subtracting the lowest value from the highest value.
3. A wide range shows that the values are far apart.

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#315

interquartile range

Example sentences

1. The interquartile range describes the middle half of the values.
2. The analyst reported the median and interquartile range together.
3. A small interquartile range means the middle values are close together.

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#316

variance

Example sentences

1. Variance shows how far values spread from the mean.
2. The analyst calculated variance for each test score.
3. A larger variance means the values are more widely spread.

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#317

standard deviation

Example sentences

1. The standard deviation shows how much values differ from the mean.
2. The report gives the mean and standard deviation for each group.
3. A small standard deviation means the values are close together.

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#318

standard error

Example sentences

1. The standard error shows the uncertainty in a sample estimate.
2. A larger sample usually produces a smaller standard error.
3. The graph displays the mean with its standard error.

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#319

confidence interval

Example sentences

1. The report gives a 95 percent confidence interval for the estimate.
2. A narrow confidence interval shows greater precision.
3. The confidence interval helps readers understand the uncertainty around the result.

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#320

point estimate

Example sentences

1. The sample mean was used as a point estimate of the population mean.
2. A point estimate gives one best value for an unknown quantity.
3. The report presents the point estimate with a confidence interval.

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