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3.1 Introducing Statistics: Do the Data We Collected Tell the Truth?

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Types of Statistical Studies

Statistics is only as good as the data it uses. The type of study determines what conclusions are valid.

Observational study

  • Researchers observe but do NOT intervene
  • Can show association but NOT causation
  • Examples: surveys, census, retrospective studies

Experiment

  • Researchers manipulate the explanatory variable
  • Properly designed experiments CAN establish causation
  • Uses random assignment to create comparison groups

Census

  • Complete but often impractical for large populations
  • Sample survey

In this unit

7 lessons

  1. 3.1Introducing Statistics: Do the Data We Collected Tell the Truth?This lesson
  2. 3.2Introduction to Planning a StudyPreview lesson
  3. 3.3Random Sampling and Data CollectionPreview lesson
  4. 3.4Potential Problems with SamplingPreview lesson
  5. 3.5Introduction to Experimental DesignPreview lesson
  6. 3.6Selecting an Experimental DesignPreview lesson
  7. 3.7Inference and ExperimentsPreview lesson

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