Quality Research in Literacy and Science Education International Perspectives and Gold Standards

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Synopsis

Statistical models attempt to describe and quantify relationships between variables. In the models presented in this chapter, there is a response variable (sometimes called dependent variable) and at least one predictor variable (sometimes called independent or explanatory variable). When investigating a possible cause-and-effect type of relationship, the response variable is the putative effect and the predictors are the hypothesized causes. Typically, there is a main predictor variable of interest; other predictors in the model are called covariates. Unknown covariates or other independent variables not controlled in an experiment or analysis can affect the dependent or outcome variable and mislead the conclusions made from the inquiry (Bock, Velleman, & De Veaux, 2009). A p value (p) measures the statistical significance of the observed relationship; given the model, p is the probability that a relationship is seen by mere chance. The smaller the p value, the more confident we can be that the pattern seen in the data 2 is not random. In the type of models examined here, the R measures the prop- tion of the variation in the response variable that is explained by the predictors 2 specified in the model; if R is close to 1, then almost all the variation in the response variable has been explained. This measure is also known as the multiple correlation coefficient. Statistical studies can be grouped into two types: experimental and observational.

Book details

Edition:
2009
Author:
Mack C. Shelley, Larry D. Yore, Brian B. Hand
ISBN:
9781402084270
Related ISBNs:
9781402084263
Publisher:
Springer Netherlands
Pages:
N/A
Reading age:
Not specified
Includes images:
No
Date of addition:
2020-12-17
Usage restrictions:
Copyright
Copyright date:
2009
Copyright by:
N/A 
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Categories:
Education, Language Arts, Mathematics and Statistics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Politics and Government, Science, Sociology