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Line Graph
A line graph is used to display data when the independent variable plotted on the -axis is quantitative or measured in a continuous manner, such as time. Line graphs are also used to present correlations between quantitative variables when the independent variable has, or is organized into, a relatively small number of distinct levels. Each point on the graph represents the mean score on the dependent variable for participants at one level of the independent variable.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
Related
Correlation Coefficient
Sample Statistic
Descriptive Statistics in Experimental Research
Descriptive Statistics in Non-Experimental Research
Inferential Statistics
Understanding Descriptive Statistics
Scatterplot
Measures of Central Tendency
Measures of Dispersion
Forms of Statistical Relationship
Cohen's
Mean
Standard Deviation
Bar Graph
Line Graph
What is the primary purpose of using descriptive statistics in psychological research?
Match each category of descriptive statistics with the specific goal it accomplishes when a researcher is summarizing their data.
A researcher finds that a distribution of scores on a memory task is negatively skewed, meaning there are a few extremely low scores that pull the tail of the distribution to the left. Arrange the following measures of central tendency in order from the lowest numerical value to the highest numerical value based on this distribution's shape.
In a psychological study where a distribution of scores is highly skewed by a single extreme outlier, the mean is a more valid descriptive statistic than the median for evaluating the typical performance of the sample.
Measures of dispersion, such as the standard deviation and variance, are descriptive statistics used to describe the average scores within a research sample.
Tables in Research Reports
A psychologist studies the sleep patterns of college students and wants to summarize the collected data. Why must the psychologist report both a measure of central tendency (such as the mean) and a measure of dispersion (such as the standard deviation) to provide a complete descriptive summary of the sample's sleep duration?
A researcher records the number of errors made by five participants on a memory task: 3, 8, 2, 5, and 7. The range for this sample is _____.
A research team is summarizing data from a psychology study. Match each descriptive statistic on the left to the research situation on the right where it would be the most appropriate single summary to report.
A researcher reports that two groups of participants completed an identical mood-rating scale (scored 0–100). Group A had a mean of 60 and a standard deviation of 4, while Group B had a mean of 60 and a standard deviation of 22. Although both groups share the same measure of central tendency, a student analyzing these results should conclude that Group B's scores show substantially greater _____ than Group A's scores.
A researcher has collected scores on a stress questionnaire from 80 undergraduate participants and must decide which descriptive statistics to select and report. Arrange the following evaluative steps in the order that best supports an accurate, justified statistical summary of the data.
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When presenting research data using a line graph, what does each plotted point typically represent?
A line graph is an appropriate choice for displaying data when the independent variable on the x-axis is a categorical variable, such as participants' political party affiliation.
A researcher is studying the effect of 'Hours of Sleep' (specifically 4, 6, 8, and 10 hours) on 'Cognitive Alertness' scores. Arrange the following steps in the correct order to represent this quantitative relationship using a line graph.
Analyze the following research scenarios and match each study to the correct justification for its graphical representation, based on the properties of the independent variable.
Match each component or function of a line graph with its correct description based on the course material.
In psychological research, what is the primary conceptual reason for connecting mean scores with a line in a graph when the independent variable on the -axis is quantitative?
A researcher is evaluating the most effective way to display the results of a study that measured 'Reading Speed' across different 'Text Sizes' (, , , and point font). The researcher decides that a line graph is superior to a bar graph for this data. This judgment is based on the criterion that the independent variable is _____ in nature, which is required for a line graph to effectively show the trend between its levels on the -axis.
A clinical psychologist measures reaction times across four dosage levels of a new medication (, , , and ). If the psychologist plots these data on a line graph, each plotted point will represent the individual reaction time of a single participant at that specific dosage level.
A developmental psychologist is analyzing the correlation between children's age (measured in years: 2, 4, 6, and 8) and their cooperative play scores. Because the independent variable of age is quantitative and organized into a relatively small number of distinct levels, the psychologist should use a _____ to display the mean cooperative play score for each age group.
A researcher wants to evaluate and construct a graphical display showing how different levels of daily caffeine consumption (measured as , , and ) affect participants' average score on a memory recall test. Order the steps the researcher must take to correctly represent this relationship using a line graph, from first to last.