Glossary

Addition Rule

If C and D are mutually exclusive events, then P(C or D) = P(C) + P(D).

Unit 19

Adequacy of a Linear Model

A line is adequate to describe the pattern in a set of data points provided the data have linear form. A residual plot is a good way of checking adequacy.

Unit 11

Alternative Hypothesis or H_a

The claim in a significance test that we are trying to gather evidence for – the researcher’s point of view. The alternative hypothesis is contradictory to H₀ and is judged the more plausible claim when H₀ is rejected.

Unit 25

ANOVA

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is a technique used to analyze variation in data in order to test whether three or more population means are equal.

Unit 31

Assumptions of the Linear Regression Model

• The observed response y for any value of x varies according to a normal distribution. Repeated responses, y-values, are independent of each other.
• The mean response, μ_y, has a straight-line relationship with x: μ_y = α + βx.
• The standard deviation of y, σ, is the same for all values of x.

Unit 30

Bar Chart

Graph of a frequency distribution for categorical data. Each category is represented by a bar whose area is proportional to the frequency, relative frequency, or percent of that category. If the categorical variable is ordinal, the logical order of the categories should be preserved in the bar chart.

Unit 2

Between-Groups Variation

A measure of the spread of the group means about the grand mean, the mean of all the observations. It is measured by the mean square for groups, MSG.

Unit 31

Biased Sample

A sample in which some individuals or groups from the population are less likely to be selected than others due to some attribute.

Unit 17

Binomial Distribution

In a binomial setting with n trials and probability of success p, the distribution of x = the number of successes. Shorthand notation for this distribution is b(n, p). The probabilities p(x) for the binomial distribution with parameters n and p can be calculated using the following formula:

Unit 21

Binomial Random Variable

The number of successes, x, in a binomial setting with n trials with probability of success p. The mean and standard deviation of a binomial random variable x can be calculated as follows:

Unit 21

Binomial Setting

A setting in which there are a fixed number of n independent trials. Each trial can result in only one of two outcomes, success or failure, and the probability of success, p, is the same for each trial.

Unit 21

Bivariate Data

Measurements or observations are recorded on two attributes for each individual or subject under study.

Unit 10

Boxplot (or Box-and-Whisker Plot)

Graphical representation of the five-number summary. The basic boxplot consists of a box that extends from the first quartile to the third quartile with whiskers that extend from each box end to the minimum and maximum data values. The basic boxplot can be modified to include identification of mild and extreme outliers. Unit 5

Categorical Variable

Variable whose values are classifications or categories. Gender, occupation, and eye color are examples of categorical variables.

Unit 13

Census

An attempt to gather information about every individual in a population.

Unit 16

Center Line

The center line on a control chart is generally the target value or mean of the quality characteristic being sampled.

Unit 23

Central Limit Theorem

If the sample size n is large (say n > 30), then the sampling distribution of the sample mean x̄ of n independent observations from the same population has an approximate normal distribution. If the population mean and variance are μ and σ, respectively, then x̄has an approximate normal distribution with mean μ and standard deviation σ/√n.

Unit 22

Chi-Square Test Statistic for Independence

The chi-square test for independence is used for categorical variables. For testing the null hypothesis H₀: no association between the variables or H₀: variables are independent, the chi-square-test statistic is computed as follows:

If the null hypothesis is true, χ2 will have a chi-square distribution with degrees of freedom (r – 1)(c – 1), where r and c are the number of rows and columns in the two-way table, respectively.

Unit 29

Common Cause Variation

Variation due to day-to-day factors that influence the process.

Unit 23

Complement of an Event A

An event that consists of all the outcomes in the sample space that are not in A. If B is the complement of A, then B = not A.

Unit 19

Complement Rule

For any event C, P(not C) = 1 – P(C).

Unit 19

Complementary Events

Two events are complementary if they are mutually exclusive and combining their outcomes into a single set gives the entire sample space.

Unit 19

Conditional Distribution
There are two sets of conditional distributions for a two-way table:

• distributions of the row variable for each fixed level of the column variable
• distributions of the column variable for each fixed level of the row variable

Conditional distributions provide one way to explore the relationship between the row and column variables.

Unit 13

Computing the conditional distribution of physical beauty (the column variable) for unhappy people (a fixed level of the row variable).

Confidence Interval

An interval estimate computed from sample data that gives a range of plausible values for a population parameter. The interval is constructed so that the value of the parameter will be captured between the endpoints of the interval with a chosen level of confidence.

Unit 24

Confidence Interval for μ (t-interval)

When σ is unknown, the sample size n is small, and the population distribution is approximately normal, a t-confidence interval for μ is given by the following formula:

where t* is a t-critical value associated with the confidence level and determined from a t-distribution with df = n – 1 degrees of freedom.

Unit 26

Confidence Interval for μ (z-interval)

When σ is known and either the sample size n is large or the population distribution is normal, a confidence interval for μ is given by the following formula:

where z* is a z-critical value (from a standard normal distribution) associated with the confidence level.

Unit 24

Confidence Interval for p

In situations where the sample size n is large, a confidence interval for the population proportion p is given by the following formula:

where p̂ is the sample proportion and z^* is the a z-critical value (from a standard normal distribution) associated with the confidence level.

Unit 28

Confidence Interval for Population Slope β

A confidence interval for the population slope β is given by the following formula:

where t^* is a t-critical value associated with the confidence level and determined from a t-distribution with df = n – 2; b is the least-squares estimate of the population slope calculated from the data, and s_b is the standard error of b.

Unit 30

Confidence Level

A number that provides information on how much confidence we have in the method used to construct a confidence interval estimate of a population parameter. It is the long-run success rate (success means capturing the parameter in the interval) of the method used to construct the confidence interval.

Unit 24

Confounding Factors

Two (or more) factors (explanatory variables) are confounded when their effects on a response variable are intertwined and cannot be distinguished from each other.

Unit 15

Continuous Random Variable

A random variable that can take on values that include an interval. The number of possible distinct outcomes is uncountable; there are too many possible values to put them all in a list.

Unit 20

Control Charts

Charts used to monitor the output of a process. The charts are designed to signal when the process has been disturbed so that it is now out of control or is about to go out of control.

Unit 23

Control Group

A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment under study. The control group could receive a placebo to hide the fact that no treatment is being given. In an active control group, the subjects receive what might be considered the existing standard treatment.

Unit 15

Control Limits

The upper control limit (UCL) and lower control limit (LCL) on a control chart are generally set ±3 σ/√n from the center line.

Unit 23

Convenience Sampling

A sampling design in which the pollster selects a sample that is easy to obtain, such as friends, family, co-workers, and so forth.

Unit 17

Correlation

Denoted by r, correlation measures the direction and strength of a linear relationship between two quantitative variables. The formula for computing Pearson’s correlation coefficient is:

Unit 12

Decision Rules

A set of rules that identify from a control chart when a process is becoming unstable or going out of control.

Unit 23

Degrees of Freedom for Test for Independence

(r – 1)(c – 1), where the numbers r and c are the number of rows and columns in the two-way table, respectively.

Unit 29

Dependent Events

Two events are dependent if the fact that one of the events occurs does affect the probability that the other occurs. Events that are not dependent are independent.

Unit 19

Dependent Variable

A variable whose outcome we would like to predict based on another variable (independent variable). The dependent variable is always plotted on the vertical axis of a scatterplot. Also called a response variable.

Unit 10

Deviations from the Mean

The deviations of each data value from the sample mean: x₁ – x̄, x₂ – x̄, … x_n – x̄.

Unit 6

Discrete Random Variable

A random variable that can take on only a countable number of distinct values – in other words, it is possible to list all possible values. Any random variable that can take on only a finite number of values is a discrete random variable.

Unit 20

Distribution

Description of the possible values a variable assumes and how often these values occur.

Unit 2

Dotplot

Graphical display of quantitative data in which each observation (or a group of a specified number of observations) is represented by a dot above a horizontal axis.

Unit 2

Double-Blind Experiment

An experiment in which neither the subjects nor the individuals measuring the response know which subjects are assigned to which treatment.

Unit 15

Empirical Rule (68-95-99.7% Rule)

Rule that gives the approximate percentage of data that fall within one standard deviation (68%), two standard deviations (95%), and three standard deviations (99.7%) of the mean. This rule should be applied only when the data are approximately normal.

Unit 8

Estimated Regression Line

The estimated regression line for the linear regression model is the least-squares line, ŷ= a + bx.

Unit 30

Expected Counts

The number of observations that would be expected to fall into each cell (or class) of a two-way table if the null hypothesis is true. The expected counts for the chi-square test for independence are computed as follows:

Unit 29

Experimental Study

A study in which researchers deliberatively apply some treatment to the subjects in order to observe their responses. The purpose is to study whether the treatment causes a change in the response.

Unit 15

Explanatory Variable

Variable that is used to predict the response variable. The explanatory variable is always plotted on the horizontal axis of a scatterplot. Also called Independent Variable.

Unit 10

F-Test Statistic

The test statistic of the ratio of the MSG and MSE, , which is used for testing H₀: μ₁ = μ₂ = … = μ_k. When H₀ is true, F has an F distribution with numerator df = k – 1 and denominator df = N – k, where k is the number of groups and N is the total number of observations. 

Unit 31

Factors

The explanatory variables in an observational study or an experiment. Also called the independent variables. 

Unit 15, Unit 31

First Quartile or Q1

The one-quarter point in an ordered set of quantitative data. To compute Q1, calculate the median of the lower half of the ordered data. 

Unit 5

Five-Number Summary

A five number summary of a quantitative data set consists of the following: minimum, first quartile (Q1), median, third quartile (Q3), maximum. 

Unit 5

Frequency Distribution

A table that displays frequencies of data falling into categories or class intervals. 

Unit 3

Histogram

Graphical representation of a frequency distribution. Bars are drawn over each class interval on a number line. The areas of the bars are proportional to the frequencies with which data fall into the class intervals.

Unit 3

In Control

The state of a process that is running smoothly, with its variables staying within an acceptable range.

Unit 23

Independent Events

Two events are independent if the fact that one of the events occurs does not affect the probability that the other occurs.

Unit 19

Independent Variable

Variable that is used to predict the dependent variable. The independent variable is always plotted on the horizontal axis of a scatterplot. Also called Explanatory Variable.

Unit 10

Interquartile range or IQR

A measure of the spread of the middle half of the data: IQR = Q3 – Q1. The IQR is a resistant measure of the variability of a data set.

Unit 5

Joint Distribution of Two Categorical Variables

A two-way table of counts gives the joint distribution of two categorical variables. The joint distribution can be converted to percentages by dividing each cell count by the grand total and then multiplying by 100%.

Unit 13

Least-Squares Regression

A method for finding the best-fitting curve to a given set of data points by minimizing the sum of the squares of the residual errors (SSE).

Unit 11

Least-Squares Regression Line

The least-squares line is the line that makes the sum of the squares of the residual errors (SSE) as small as possible. The equation of the least-squares line has the form y= a + bx, where a and slope b can be calculated from n data pairs (x, y) using the following formulas:

Unit 11

Level

One of the possible values or settings that a factor can assume.

Unit 31

Linear Form

A scatterplot has linear form when dots in a scatter plot appear to be randomly scattered on either side of a straight line.

Unit 10

Linear Regression Model

The simple linear regression model assumes that for each value of x the observed values of the response variable y are normally distributed about a mean μ_y that has the following linear relationship with x:

Lurking Variable

Margin of Error

For confidence intervals of the form point estimate ± margin of error, the margin of error gives the range of values above and below the point estimate. The margin of error is the half-width of the confidence interval.

Unit 24

Marginal Distribution

A distribution computed from a two-way table of counts by dividing the row or column totals by the overall total. Often the marginal distributions are expressed as percentages.

The marginal distributions of the row and column variables expressed in percentages.

Unit 13

Marginal Totals

The sum of the row entries or the sum of the column entries in a two-way table of counts.

Marginal totals in a two-way table.

Unit 13

Matched-Pairs t-Test Statistic

In testing H₀: μ_D = μ_D0 where μ_D is the population mean difference, given by

where x̄_D and s_D are the mean and standard deviation of the sample differences. If the differences are approximately normally distributed and the null hypothesis is true, then thas a t-distribution with df = n – 1 degrees of freedom.

Unit 26

Mean

The arithmetic average or balance point of sample data. To calculate the mean, sum the data values and divide the sum by the number of data values.

The mean as the balancing point.

If the sample consists of observations x₁,x₂,…,x_n, then the sample mean is

Unit 4

Mean of a Discrete Random Variable x

Given a probability distribution, p(x), the mean is calculated as follows:

Unit 20

Median

A resistant measure of center of a data set. The median separates the upper half of the data from the lower half. To calculate the median, order the data from smallest to largest and count up (n + 1)/2 places in the ordered list.

Unit 4

Mode

The data value in a quantitative data set that occurs most frequently.

The mode of the test scores is 75.

Unit 4

Multiplication Rule

If C and D are independent, then P(C and D) = P(C)P(D).

Unit 19

Multistage Sampling

A sampling design that begins by dividing the population into clusters. In stage one, the pollster choses a (random) sample of clusters. In subsequent stages, samples are chosen from each of the selected clusters.

Unit 17

Multivariate Data

Data that consists of measurements or observations recorded on two or more attributes for each individual or subject under study.

Unit 10

Mutually Exclusive Events

Events that have no outcomes in common. Events that are disjoint.

Unit 19

Negative Association

Two variables have negative association if above-average values of one accompany below-average values of the other, and vice versa. In a scatterplot, a negative association would appear as a pattern of dots in the upper left to the lower right.

Unit 10

Nonlinear Form 

Often scatterplots do not have linear form. Instead the data might form a curved pattern. In that case, we say the scatterplot has nonlinear form.

Unit 10

Normal Curve

Bell-shaped curve. The center line of the normal curve is at the mean μ. The change-of-curvature in the bell-shaped curve occurs at μ – σ and μ + σ where σ is the standard deviation.

Unit 7

Normal Density Curve

A normal curve scaled so that the area under the curve is 1.

Unit 7

Normal Distribution

Distribution that is described by a normal density curve. Any particular normal distribution is completely specified by two numbers, its mean μ and standard deviation σ.

Unit 7

Normal Quantile Plot

Also known as normal probability plot. A graphical method for assessing whether data come from a normal distribution. The plot compares the ordered data with what would be expected of perfectly normal data. A normal quantile plot that shows a roughly linear pattern suggests that it is reasonable to assume the data come from a normal distribution.

Normal quantile plot for hen weights.

Unit 9

Null Hypothesis or H₀

The claim tested by a significance test. Usually the null hypothesis is a statement about “no effect” or “no change.” The null hypothesis has the following form: H₀: population parameter = hypothesized value.

Unit 25

Observational Study

A study in which researchers observe subjects and measure variables of interest. However, the researchers do not try to influence the responses. The purpose is to describe groups of subjects under different situations.

Unit 15

Observed Counts

The number of observations that fall into each cell (or class) of a two-way table.

Unit 29

One-Sided Alternative Hypothesis

The alternative hypothesis in a significance test is one-sided if it states that either a parameter is greater than or a parameter is less than the null hypothesis value.

Unit 25

One-Way ANOVA

An analysis of variance in which one factor is thought to be related to the response variable.

Unit 31

Out of Control

The state of a process that is no longer in control. The process has become unstable or its variables are no longer within an acceptable range.

Unit 23

Outlier

Data value that lies outside the overall pattern of the other data values.

Unit 2

Paired t-Confidence Interval for μ_D

When data are matched pairs, and the standard deviation of the population differences σ_D is unknown, a t-confidence interval estimate of the population mean differences, μ_D, is given by the formula:

where t^* is a t-critical value associated with the confidence level and determined from a t-distribution with df = n – 1 and x̄_D and s_D are the mean and standard deviation of the sample differences.

Unit 26

Percentile

A value such that a certain percentage of observations from the distribution falls at or below that value. The p^th percentile of a data set is a value such that p% of the observations fall at or below that value.

The value -1.645 is the 5th percentile of a standard normal distribution because 5% of the area under the normal curve lies at or below -1.645.

Unit 9

Pie Chart

Graph of a frequency distribution for categorical data. Each category is represented by a slice of pie in which the area of the slice is proportional to the frequency or relative frequency of that category.

Unit 2

Placebo

Something that is identical in appearance to the treatment received by the treatment group. Placebos are meant to be ineffectual and are given as control treatments.

Unit 15

Point Estimate

A single number based on sample data (a statistic) that represents a plausible value for a population parameter.

Unit 24

Population

The entire group of objects or individuals about which information is wanted.

Unit 16

Population Proportion

For a population that is divided into two categories, success and failure, based on some characteristic, the population proportion, p, is:

Unit 28

Population Regression Line

The population regression line, μ_y = α + βx describes how the mean response y varies as x changes.

Unit 30

Positive Association

Two variables have positive association if above-average values of one tend to accompany above-average values of the other and below-average values of one tend to accompany below-average values of the other. In a scatterplot, a positive association would appear as a pattern of dots in the lower left to the upper right.

Unit 10

Probability

A measure of how likely it is that something will happen or something is true. Probabilities are always between 0 and 1. Events with probabilities closer to 0 are less likely to happen and events with probabilities closer to 1 are more likely to happen.

Unit 18

Probability Distribution

A list of the possible values of a discrete random variable together with the probabilities associated with those values.

Unit 20

Process

Chain of steps that turns inputs into outputs.

Unit 23

Prospective Study

A study that starts with a group and watches for outcomes (for example, the development of cancer or remaining cancer-free) during the study period and relates this to suspected risk or protection factors that might be linked to the outcomes.

Unit 14

P-value

The probability, computed under the assumption that the null hypothesis is true, of observing a value from the test statistic’s distribution that is at least as extreme as the value of the test statistic that was actually observed.

Unit 25

Quantitative Variable

Variable whose values are numbers obtained from measurements or counts. Height, weight, and points scored at a basketball game are examples of quantitative variables.

Unit 2

Random Phenomenon

A situation in which the possible outcomes are known but we do not know which one will occur. If the situation is repeated over and over, a regular pattern to the outcomes emerges over the long run.

Unit 18

Random Variable

A variable whose possible values are numbers associated with outcomes of a random phenomenon.

Unit 20

Range

Measure of the variability of a quantitative data set from its extremes: range = maximum – minimum.

Unit 5

Regression Line

A straight line that describes how a response variable y is related to an explanatory variable x.

Unit 11

Representative Sample

A sample that accurately reflects the members of the entire population.

Unit 17

Residual Error

A residual error is the vertical deviation of a data point from the regression model: residual error = actual y – predicted y.

Unit 11

Resistant Measure

A statistic that measures some aspect of a distribution (such as its center) that is relatively unaffected by a small subset of extreme data values. For example, the median is a resistant measure of the center of a distribution while the mean is not a resistant measure of center.

Unit 4

Response Variable

The variable used to measure the outcome of a study, which we attempt to explain or predict using one or more independent variables (factors). The response variable is always plotted on the vertical axis of a scatterplot. Also called the dependent variable.

Unit 10, Unit 31

Retrospective Study

A study that starts with an outcome (for example, two groups of people, a cancer group and a non-cancer group) and then looks back to examine exposures to suspected risk or protection factors that might be linked to that outcome. Unit 14

Run Chart

A plot of data values versus the order in which these values were collected.

Unit 23

Sample

The part of the population that is actually examined in a study.

Unit 16

Sample Mean

One measure of center of a data set. The mean is the arithmetic average or balance point of a set of data. To calculate the mean, sum the data and divide by the number of data items:

Unit 4

Sample Proportion

The sample proportion, p̂, from a sample of size n is:

Unit 28

Sample Standard Deviation

One measure of variability of a data set. The standard deviation has the same units as the data values. To calculate the standard deviation, take the square root of the sample variance:

Unit 6

Sample Variance

One measure of variability of a data set. To calculate the variance, sum the squared deviations from the mean and divide by the number of data minus one:

Unit 6

Sampling Bias

Occurs when a sample is collected in such a way that some individuals in the population are less likely to be included in the sample than others. Because of this, information gathered from the sample will be slanted toward those who are more likely to be part of the sample.

Unit 16

Sampling Design

Plan of how to select the sample from the population.

Unit 17

Sampling Distribution

The distribution of the values of a sample statistic (such as x̄, the median, or s) over many, many random samples chosen from the same population.

Unit 22

Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean

The distribution of x̄ over a very large number of samples. If x̄ is the mean of a simple random sample (SRS) of size n from a population having mean µ and standard deviation σ, then the mean and standard deviation of x̄ are:

Furthermore, if the population distribution is normal, then the distribution of x̄ is normal.

Unit 22

Sampling Distribution of the Sample Proportion

When the sample size n is large, the sampling distribution of the sample proportion p̂ is approximately normally distributed with the following mean and standard deviation:

Unit 28

Scatterplot

A graphical display of bivariate quantitative data in which each observation (x, y) is plotted in the plane.

Unit 10

Self-Selecting Sampling

A sampling design in which the sample consists of people who respond to a request for participation in the survey. (Also called voluntary sampling.)

Unit 17

Significance Level

In a significance test, the highest p-value for which we will reject the null hypothesis.

Unit 25

Significance Test

A method that uses sample data to decide between two competing claims, called hypotheses, about a population parameter.

Unit 25

Simple Random Sample of Size n

A sample of n individuals from the population chosen in such a way that every set of n individuals has an equal chance to be in the sample actually selected.

Unit 16

Simple Random Sampling

A sampling design that chooses a sample of size n using a method in which all possible samples of size n are equally likely to be selected.

Unit 17

Single-Blind Experiment

An experiment in which the subjects do not know which treatment they are receiving but the individuals measuring the response do know which subjects were assigned to which treatments.

Unit 15

Skewed Right or Left

A unimodal distribution is skewed to the right if the right tail of the distribution is longer than the left and is skewed to the left if the left tail of the distribution is longer than the right.  Unit 3

Skewed left

Special Cause Variation

Variation due to sudden, unexpected events that affect the process.

Unit 23

Standard Deviation of a Discrete Random Variable x

Given a probability distribution, p(x), the standard deviation, σ, is calculated as follows:

Unit 20

Standard Error of the Estimate

A point estimate of σ, which is a measure of how much the observations vary about the regression line. The standard error of the estimate, s_e, is computed as follows:

Unit 30

Standard Error of the Slope b

The estimated standard deviation of b, the least-squares estimate for the population slope β, is:

Unit 30

Standard Normal Distribution

Normal distribution with μ = 0 and σ = 1.

Unit 8

Standard Normal Quantiles

The z-values that divide the horizontal axis of a standard normal density curve into intervals such that the areas under the density curve over each of the intervals are equal.

Unit 9

Stemplot (or Stem-and-Leaf Plot)

Graphical tool for organizing quantitative data in order from smallest to largest. The plot consists of two columns, one for the stems (leading digit(s) of the observations) and the other for the leaves (trailing digit(s) for each observation listed beside corresponding stem). Stemplots are a useful tool for conveying the shape of relatively small data sets and identifying outliers.

Unit 2

Strata

The non-overlapping groups used in a stratified sampling plan.

Unit 17

Stratified Random Sample

A stratified sampling plan in which the sample is obtained by taking random samples from each of the strata.

Unit 17

Stratified Sampling

A sampling plan that is used to ensure that specific non-overlapping groups of the population are represented in the sample. The non-overlapping groups are called strata. Samples are taken from each stratum.

Unit 17

Symmetric Distribution

Shape of a distribution of a quantitative variable in which the lower half of the distribution is roughly a mirror image of the upper half.

Distribution of Time of First Lightning flash is roughly symmetric.

Unit 2

t-Confidence Interval for μ

When σ is unknown, the sample size n is small, and the population distribution is approximately normal, a t-confidence interval for μ is given by the following formula:

Comparison of a standard normal distribution and a t-distribution with df = 2. Notice that the t-distribution has thicker tails (see shaded region) than the standard normal distribution.

t-Test Statistic

t-Test Statistic for the Slope

Test of Hypotheses

Test Statistic

Third Quartile or Q3

Treatment

Two-Sample t-Confidence Interval for μ₁ – μ₂

Two-Sample t-Procedures

Two-Sample t-Test Statistic

Two-Sided Alternative Hypothesis

Two-Way Table of Counts (Frequencies)

A 3×3 table two-way table: the row variable is Happiness and the column variable is Physical Beauty.

Unimodal

Describes a single-peaked shape of a histogram or density curve.

Distribution of Time of First Lightning flash is unimodal.

Unit 2

Univariate Data

Data in which measurements or observations are recorded on one attribute for each individual or subject under study.

Unit 2

Variable

Describes some characteristic or attribute of interest that can vary in value.

Unit 2

Variance of a Discrete Random Variable x

Given a probability distribution, p(x), the variance is calculated as follows:

Unit 20

Voluntary Sampling

A sampling design in which the sample consists of people who respond to a request for participation in the survey. Also called self-selecting sampling.

Unit 17

Within-Groups Variation

A measure of the spread of individual data values within each group about the group mean. It is measured by the mean square error, MSE.

Unit 31

x̄ Charts

A plot of means of successive samples versus the order in which the samples were taken.

Unit 23

z-Score

Transformation of a data value x into its deviation from the mean measured in standard deviations. To calculate a z-score for a data value x, subtract the mean and divide by the standard deviation:

Unit 8

z-Test Statistic

In testing H₀: μ = μ₀, where μ is the population mean, the formula for the z-test statistic is:

The z-test statistic is used in situations where the population standard deviation σ is known and either the population has a normal distribution or the sample size n is large.

Unit 8

z-Test Statistic for Proportions

In testing H₀: p = p₀, where p is the population proportion, the formula for the z-test statistic is:

The z-test is used in situations where the sample size n is large.

Unit 28