Social Research Methods - Statistical Analysis
Social Research Methods - Statistical Analysis
Social Research Methods - Statistical Analysis
Introduction
2
able (such as crime rates) over time.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Analytic tech Factor analysis, feasible only with a computer, is an an- nique in which researchers map quantitative data that dealytic method of discovering the general dimensions rep- scribe geographic units in a graphic display.
resented by a collection of actual variables. These gen- Inferential statistics: The body of statistical computaeral dimensions, or factors, are calculated hypothetical di- tions relevant to making inferences from ndings based
mensions that are not perfectly represented by any of the on sample observations to some larger populations.
empirical variables under study but are highly associated
Level of signicance: In the context of tests of statiswith groups of empirical variables. A factor loading indi- tical signicance, the degree of likelihood that an obcates the degree of association between a given empirical served, empirical relationship could be attributable to
variable and a given factor.
sample error. A relationship is signicant at the .05 level
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is based on comparing variations between and within groups and determining whether between-group dierences could reasonably
have occurred in simple random sampling or whether they
likely represent a genuine relationship between the variables involved.
Discriminant analysis seeks to account for variation in
some dependent variable. It results in an equation that
scored people on the basis of that hypothetical dimensions and allows us to predict their values on the dependent variable.
Multiple regression analysis: A form of statistical analysis that seeks the equation representing the impact of
Log-linear models oer a method for analyzing com- two or more independent variables on a single dependent
plex relationships among several nominal variables hav- variable.
ing more than two attributes each.
Nonsampling error: Those imperfections of data qual Geographic Information Systems (GIS) map quantitative ity that are a result of factors other than sampling erdata that describe geographic unites for a graphic display. ror. Exampling include misunderstandings of questions
Key Terms that are important for understanding statisti- by respondents, erroneous recordings by interviewers and
coders, and keypunch errors.
cal analyses.
Analysis of variance (ANOVA): Method of analysis in
which cases under study are combined into groups representing an independent variable, and the extent to which
the groups dier from from one another is analyzed in
terms of some dependent variable. Then, the extent to
which the groups dier is compared with the standard of
random distribution.
Partial regression analysis: A form of regression analysis in which the eects of one or more variables are held
constant, similar to the logic of the elaboration model.
Path analysis: A form of multivariate analysis in which
the causal relationships among variables are presented in
a graphic format.
1.1
Text
1.2
Images
1.3
Content license