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Statistics in Psychology

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Statistics in Psychology

Team B

April 5, 2014

PSY/315

Nancy Walker

Many people find the topic of statistics to be very difficult and a world of confusion. If asked, most would simplify statistics to being a breakdown of information using those colorful charts and graphs. This paper will give a brief introduction into the world of statistics by examining the differences between descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as, introduce some key terms that are frequently used. It will also describe the functions of statistics and describe how they are applied in the field of psychology. Having a better understanding of the various statistical functions and definitions, we will have a better opportunity at providing examples and prove that statistics is more than just colorful charts and graphs. Statistics is where a large amount of data is put together in a format that allows the viewer to understand it better. Whenever choosing an experiment that results in statistics, one would start with a hypothesis, or idea. This gives the entire process a purpose. The function of statistics appears for various reasons. When there is a large amount of data, it organizes it so that a viewer and/or a presenter can comprehend or present it easier. A way that it is organized is through charts and graphs, which shows the clarity. Another function is to show comparisons between two or more clumps of data. Statistics helps in forecasting trends and tendencies. Statistical techniques are used for predicting future values and variables. An example of this could be a producer forecasting for a future production. If he created a set of numbers based on his past experiences and compared to his present demand conditions, he could get a better idea for the future. Similarly, city, state, and federal planners can forecast future increases, or decreases, in population.

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