The Process of Statistical Analysis in Psychology
Web Activities
Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.
Activity 1:
Range
Your book discusses the range of values of a measure. In this exercise, you will practice calculating the range and applying the knowledge.
Go to this link: https://i.redd.it/r20hei6bgwwy.png.
- Calculate the range for each of the visual problems depicted.
- Which is the largest? The smallest?
- What do you think might impact the range of scores in a given region?
- Your book discusses artificial restriction of range by questionnaires. Do you think that applies in this study? Why or why not?
Activity 2:
Understanding mean and standard deviation
Your book discussed these measures of central tendency and variance. In this activity, you will practice calculating each of these.
Go to this link: http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/books/actor-heights-versus-character-heights.
In Excel (or by hand, in SPSS, as informed in your book, or by entering the numbers into this web page here: https://www.mathsisfun.com/data/standard-deviation-calculator.html), calculate the mean and standard deviation for the heights of the characters and the heights of the actors playing the characters (You should convert the heights into inches before adding them to make it easier. When a range is given, you can use the low end). Answer the following questions:
- What is the mean for each group?
- What is the standard deviation for each group?
- Which group has more variance?
- Do you think it is possible for two groups to have the same mean but different variance? For two groups to have different means but the same variance? Why?
Activity 3:
Interquartile Range and Standard Deviation
Your book discussed the use of standard deviation and interquartile range as a measure of variance. In this exercise, you will practice calculating each of them and applying information about them.
Go to this website: http://www.easywdw.com/waits/.
Depending on the time of day and season, ride wait times vary. Choose two parks (Animal Kingdom and Epcot have fewer rides) and create a data set for each park using the rides and their wait times as listed. Using the methods outlined in your book, calculate the standard deviation and interquartile range for the ride wait times.
- What is the mean and standard deviation for each park?
- Look at the data points for each park. Are there any extreme scores? What are they, if any?
- What does your book tell you about which measure of variance to use with extreme scores? Which measure of variance would be best for each of your park data sets?