What are statistical tables used for in inferential testing?

To find critical values that determine whether an observed result is statistically significant.

Define what a critical value is in statistical testing.

The threshold value from a statistical table that the observed/calculated value must meet or exceed (or be equal to or less than, depending on the test) for the result to be considered statistically significant.

What does the significance level (p-value) represent?

The probability that the observed results occurred by chance rather than due to the independent variable.

When might a researcher use a significance level of p ≤ 0.01?

When the consequences of a Type I error are serious, requiring a more stringent criterion.

In what research context might a significance level of p ≤ 0.10 be appropriate?

In exploratory or pilot research, where a more lenient criterion is acceptable.

AQA A-Level Psychology 7182

Social Influence

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Memory

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Attachment

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Quantitative and Qualitative Data

Topic overview Quantitative and qualitative data; the distinction between qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques Primary and secondary data, including meta-analysis Descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion Presentation and display of quantitative data: graphs, tables, scattergrams, bar charts Distributions: normal and skewed distributions Introduction to statistical testing; the sign test

Data Handling and Analysis

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Inferential Testing

Topic overview The sign test Probability and significance Factors affecting the choice of statistical test

Issues and Debates in Psychology

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RelationshipsOption 1

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SchizophreniaOption 2

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Eating BehaviourOption 2

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Inferential Testing

Probability and significance

6 things to know
Paper 2

Overview

What the significance level represents, Type I and Type II errors, and what fixes the critical value a result is compared against.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What does the significance level p represent?

Key term

What is a Type I error?

Key term

Define a Type II error.

Key term

What is a critical value, and what fixes it?

Process

How is an observed value compared with a critical value?

Evaluation

What raises the risk of each type of error?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What are statistical tables used for in inferential testing?
Model answer
To find critical values that determine whether an observed result is statistically significant.
2
Define what a critical value is in statistical testing.
Model answer
The threshold value from a statistical table that the observed/calculated value must meet or exceed (or be equal to or less than, depending on the test) for the result to be considered statistically significant.
3
What does the significance level (p-value) represent?
Model answer
The probability that the observed results occurred by chance rather than due to the independent variable.
4
When might a researcher use a significance level of p ≤ 0.01?
Model answer
When the consequences of a Type I error are serious, requiring a more stringent criterion.
5
In what research context might a significance level of p ≤ 0.10 be appropriate?
Model answer
In exploratory or pilot research, where a more lenient criterion is acceptable.
6
What is a Type I error?
Model answer
When the null hypothesis is rejected when it is actually true (a false positive).

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Social Influence

Memory

Attachment

Approaches in Psychology

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