Question

1. Use SOME of the terms listed below to fill in the blanks.

nominal                      ordinal                        dependent                  ratio                sample

parameter                  statistic                       descriptive                  variable            interval

correlational               experimental              independent              inferential            population

                                                                                   

Suppose a researcher is interested in whether wait times for mental health services in Canada have increased or decreased in recent years. Suppose further that the researcher collects data regarding the wait times for all mental health services in Ontario, as a way to estimate the wait times for all mental health services across Canada.

In this context, wait times for mental health services is an example of a __________ that is measured on a ________ scale of measurement. The ___________ of Ontario mental health services was drawn from the __________ of all Canadian mental health services, and therefore the average wait times in Ontario would be an example of a ____________, and the average wait times in Canada (if known) would be an example of a _______________. In general, any numbers or analyses used to summarize wait times in Ontario would be in the category called _____________ statistics; any numbers or analyses used to generalize from what we learn about Ontario wait times to Canada as a whole would be in the category of _____________ statistics.

Answer 1

In this context, wait times for mental health services is an example of a variable that is measured on a ratio scale of measurement. The sample of Ontario mental health services was drawn from the population of all Canadian mental health services, and therefore the average wait times in Ontario would be an example of a statistic, and the average wait times in Canada (if known) would be an example of a parameter. In general, any numbers or analyses used to summarize wait times in Ontario would be in the category called descriptive statistics; any numbers or analyses used to generalize from what we learn about Ontario wait times to Canada as a whole would be in the category of inferential  statistics.