Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Statistik / Español: estadística / Português: estatística / Français: statistique / Italiano: statistica

In the context of psychology, a statistic refers to a numerical value that describes or summarizes data collected from psychological research or testing. Statistics are crucial tools for psychologists, allowing them to analyze and interpret data concerning human behavior, cognitive functions, emotions, and social interactions.

Description

Statistics in psychology are used to measure variables, test hypotheses, and make inferences about larger populations based on sample data. Common statistical methods include descriptive statistics, which summarize data through measures like mean, median, and standard deviation; and inferential statistics, which allow researchers to determine whether the results observed in their samples can be generalized to the larger population.

Application Areas

Statistics are applied extensively across various areas of psychology:

• Experimental psychology: Uses statistics to analyze the effects of specific conditions or treatments on behavior and mental processes.
• Clinical psychology: Applies statistical analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
• Developmental psychology: Utilizes statistics to understand changes and trends across different life stages.

Well-Known Examples

A well-known application of statistics in psychology is the use of the t-test to compare the means of two groups, helping to determine if differences in experimental and control groups are statistically significant. Another example is the use of correlation coefficients to assess the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, such as stress levels and coping mechanisms.

Treatment and Risks

Understanding and using statistics in psychology involves several considerations:

• Reliability and validity: Statistics help ensure that psychological research and assessments are both reliable (consistent results) and valid (accurately measuring what they are supposed to measure).
• Ethical considerations: Proper statistical analysis is crucial for avoiding false conclusions that could lead to unethical recommendations or treatments.

Symptoms, Therapy, and Healing

While "symptoms," "therapy," and "healing" are not directly applicable to statistics themselves, the correct application of statistical techniques is vital for diagnosing and treating psychological conditions effectively:

• Diagnostic testing: Statistical methods are used to evaluate psychological tests and assessments to ensure they accurately identify conditions like depression, anxiety, or learning disabilities.
• Outcome evaluation: Statistics are critical for assessing the effectiveness of psychological treatments, guiding improvements in therapeutic approaches.

Weblinks

• industrie-lexikon.de: 'Statistik' in the industrie-lexikon.de (German)
• finanzen-lexikon.de: 'Statistik' in the finanzen-lexikon.de (German)
• umweltdatenbank.de: 'Statistik' im Lexikon der umweltdatenbank.de (German)

Articles with 'Statistic' in the title

• Inferential statistic: Inferential statistic is defined as a statistical test that allows one to infer the likelihood that an observed result is due to chance alone. Inferential Statistics, moreover are statistical procedures that help researchers determine wheth . . .
• Descriptive Statistics: Descriptive Statistics refers to statistical procedures that provide a summary picture of patterns in data. They are used to describe sets of scores collected from one experimental participant, or more often, from different groups of partic . . .
• Vital statistics: Vital statistics refers to statistics relating to births (natality), deaths (mortality), marriages, disease (morbidity ) and health.
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the bible of abnormal psychology. It lists a set of disorders and provides detailed descriptions on what constitutes a disorder such as Major Depression or Anxiety Disorder
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) refers to a book published by the American Psychiatric Association that contains standard terms and definitions of . . .
• DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders): DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) : DSM is the acronym of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which is the official manual for diagnosing mental disorders in the United States, that contains a . . .
• Statistical significance: Statistical significance refers to a statistical term indicating that a result has ninety-five percent certainty of being due to a factor other than chance

Summary

In psychology, statistics are fundamental for conducting research, analyzing data, and applying findings to understand and treat various psychological conditions effectively. They provide the tools necessary to make informed decisions based on empirical evidence, enhancing both the science and practice of psychology.

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