Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
To begin our conversation about inferential statistics, the first step is to develop the ability to determine the
appropriate statistical technique to various situations. This decision that is a function of the research question
asked and the nature and the level of measurement of the variables involved. That is, we begin with the research
question, identify the dependent and independent variables involved, identify the level of measurement of every
variable, and go to the accompanying table that will point us to the appropriate technique.
A few words of wisdom! To have a dependent variable, there must be at least one independent variable (and vice
versa). So, you cant have research questions where both or all variables are dependent (what variable would they
be independent of?), or independent.
As for levels of measurements, as you may recall, it is up to us to decide at what level we may want to measure any
variable. Also, variables measured as Numerics can be grouped into Attributes.
Please review the How to use this Matrix documents and study the examples below. Post any questions you
have in this thread for discussion. If you do not agree with the statistical technique selected, or you believed the
technique is inappropriate, then state your reason as well.
Dependent
Variable
1. Attribute
2. Numeric
Independent Variable
1. Attribute
3. Chi-Square
Non-Parametric
Techniques
5. * Discriminant
Analysis
2. Numeric
4. ANOVA
ANCOVA
Repeated Measures ANOVA
(Z-tests & t-tests)
6. Correlation
Regression
Multiple Regression
Review: For the following research question, identify the dependent and independent variables, whether they are attributes or
numerics, and the appropriate analytical technique:
Is there a difference in salary based on gender? (Salary is measured in actual monthly salary in dollars)
Variable
Dependent/Independent
Level of Measurement
(Attribute or Numeric)
Statistical Technique
Salary
Dependent
Numeric
ANOVA
Gender
Independent
Attribute
Dependent/Independent
Level of Measurement
(Attribute or Numeric)
Dependent
Numeric
Independent
Statistical Technique
Regression/Correlation
Numeric
Is there a difference in the proportion of those students who select different college major based on their ethnicity?
Variable
Dependent/Independent
Level of Measurement
(Attribute or Numeric)
College Major
Dependent
Attribute
Statistical Technique
Chi-square
Ethnicity
Independent
Attribute
Is there a difference in average age among computer buyers based on their preference for Mac or PCs?
Variable
Dependent/Independent
Level of Measurement
(Attribute or Numeric)
Age
Dependent
Numeric
Statistical Technique
ANOVA
Choice of computer
Independent
Attribute
Dependent/Independent
Level of Measurement
(Attribute or Numeric)
Dependent
Numeric
Statistical Technique
ANOVA
Gender
Independent
Attribute
Is there a relationship between a students SAT Math score and the students Age?
Variable
Dependent/Independent
Level of Measurement
(Attribute or Numeric)
SAT Score
Dependent
Numeric
Statistical Technique
Regression
Age
Independent
Numeric
Is there a difference in the amount of time spent on browsing the net and the type of the work the person performs?
(Amount of time browsing the net is measured in 1-2 hours, 3-5 hours, more than 5 hours, and the type of work is defined as
technical and non-technical)
Variable
Dependent/Independent
Level of Measurement
(Attribute or Numeric)
Dependent
Attribute
Statistical Technique
Chi-Square
Type of work performed
Independent
Attribute