The degree of uncertainty around the researchers’ estimate, typically reported as a margin of error. For example, a poll might show one political candidate ahead of another 53 percent to 48 percent, ± 3 percent.
The average of a set of values. For example, if the number of students in each of 6 classrooms is 12, 18, 22, 24, 32, and 33, the mean is 23.5 (the total divided by 6).
The midpoint of a range of values. For example, if the number of students in each of 6 classrooms is 12, 18, 22, 24, 32, and 33, the median is 23 (half the classrooms have fewer than 23 students and half have more).
These papers pool data across multiple studies to bolster their tests with large sample sizes. Researchers conduct meta-anlyses to draw big-picture conclusions in a field.
The part of a scientific paper containing detailed, step-by-step descriptions of what the researchers actually did. Methods sections are written in such a way that a different team could do the same experiment in an attempt to replicate the results.
The practice of testing multiple combinations of variables with several statistical tests. Too many tests run without proper statsitical corrections can increase the chance of spurious findings, or those that are statistically significant just by chance alone.
