Mean (average)
Sum of all scores divided by number of scores.
Example: (6 + 8 + 10) / 3 = 8.

Median
Middle score when data are ordered.
Example: For [5, 7, 8], median = 7.

Mode
Most frequent score.
Example: For [2, 3, 3, 5], mode = 3.

Variance (s²)
Average squared deviation from the mean.

Standard Deviation (s)
Square root of variance. Spread of scores around the mean.

Standard Error of the Mean (SEM)
How much sample means vary.
Formula: $$SEM = \frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}$$

t-test
Compares two means.

ANOVA (F-test)
Compares three or more means.

Post Hoc Test
Used after ANOVA to find which groups differ.

Correlation (r)
Strength and direction of a linear relationship. Range: –1 to +1.

Regression
Equation that predicts Y from X.
Example: $$\hat{Y} = a + bX$$

Chi-square (χ²)
Test for categorical data (counts).

Degrees of Freedom (df)
Independent pieces of information in a test.

p-value
Probability of getting the observed result (or more extreme) if the null hypothesis is true.

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A quick refresher on the math you’ll need in this book.

Order of Operations (PEMDAS)

• Parentheses → Exponents → Multiplication/Division → Addition/Subtraction
• Example:
  $$3 + 2 \times (4^2) = 3 + 2 \times 16 = 35$$

Fractions and Division

• Example:
  $$\frac{24}{6} = 4$$

Square Roots

• Example:
  $$\sqrt{9} = 3$$
• Example:
  $$\sqrt{\frac{16}{4}} = \sqrt{4} = 2$$

Summation Notation (Σ)

• Means “add them up.”
• Example:
  $$\Sigma X = 2+5+7 = 14$$
• Example:
  $$\Sigma (X-\bar{X})^2 = (2-4)^2 + (5-4)^2 + (7-4)^2 = 4+1+9 = 14$$

Exponents and Squares

• $$x^2 = x \times x$$
• Example:
  $$5^2 = 25$$

Mini Example: Variance and Standard Deviation

Data: 6, 8, 10

1. Mean:
   $$\bar{X} = \frac{6+8+10}{3} = 8$$
2. Deviations: –2, 0, +2
3. Squared deviations: 4, 0, 4
4. Variance:
   $$\frac{8}{2} = 4$$
5. Standard deviation:
   $$\sqrt{4} = 2$$

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A quick reference to the symbols used in this book.

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The mean tells us the “typical” score. But how tightly do scores cluster around the mean? Do they spread widely, or are they close together?

To answer, we measure variability. Two key measures are the variance and the standard deviation.

Variance

Variance is the average squared distance of scores from the mean.

Symbolic formula:
$$s^2 = \frac{\sum (X - \bar{X})^2}{n - 1}$$

Formula in words:
$$\text{Variance} = \frac{\text{sum of squared deviations from the mean}}{\text{number of scores} - 1}$$

Where:

• $$s^2$$ = variance
• $$X$$ = each score
• $$\bar{X}$$ = mean
• $$n$$ = number of scores

Standard Deviation

The standard deviation is the square root of the variance. It puts variability back into the same units as the data.

Symbolic formula:
$$s = \sqrt{\frac{\sum (X - \bar{X})^2}{n - 1}}$$

Formula in words:
$$\text{Standard deviation} = \sqrt{\frac{\text{sum of squared deviations from the mean}}{\text{number of scores} - 1}}$$

Example

Data: 6, 8, 10

• Mean = 8
• Deviations: –2, 0, 2
• Squared deviations: 4, 0, 4
• Sum = 8

Variance:
$$s^2 = \frac{8}{3-1} = 4$$

Standard deviation:
$$s = \sqrt{4} = 2$$

So, on average, scores are 2 units away from the mean.

Definition

• Variance: average squared distance from the mean.
• Standard Deviation: square root of variance; typical distance from the mean.

Visuals

Figure L3.1 — Variability Around the Mean. Dot plot of scores with the mean marked, vertical lines for deviations, and shaded boxes for squared deviations.

Why This Matters

Two sets of scores can have the same mean but very different spreads.
Variance and standard deviation give us the language to describe spread, and they are the building blocks for t-tests, ANOVA, and all inferential statistics.

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After finding the mean, the next question is: How much do the scores vary around that mean?
Variation tells us whether data are tightly clustered or widely spread. Two common measures are the variance and the standard deviation.

Variance and standard deviation - formal level

Variance and standard deviation - intuitive level

Variance

Variance is the average squared distance of each score from the mean.

Symbolic formula:
$$s^2 = \frac{\sum (X - \bar{X})^2}{n - 1}$$

Formula in words:
$$\text{Variance} = \frac{\text{sum of squared deviations from the mean}}{\text{number of scores} - 1}$$

Where:

• $$s^2$$ = variance
• $$X$$ = each score
• $$\bar{X}$$ = mean
• $$n$$ = number of scores

Example: Data: 6, 8, 10

• Mean = 8
• Deviations: (6–8) = –2, (8–8) = 0, (10–8) = 2
• Squared deviations: 4, 0, 4
• Sum = 8

Variance = $$\tfrac{8}{3-1} = 4$$

Standard Deviation

The standard deviation is the square root of the variance.

Symbolic formula:
$$s = \sqrt{\frac{\sum (X - \bar{X})^2}{n - 1}}$$

Formula in words:
$$\text{Standard deviation} = \sqrt{\frac{\text{sum of squared deviations from the mean}}{\text{number of scores} - 1}}$$

Example continued:
Variance = 4 → Standard deviation = $$\sqrt{4} = 2$$

So, on average, scores are about 2 units away from the mean.

Definition

• Variance: average squared distance from the mean.
• Standard Deviation: square root of variance; typical distance from the mean.

Visuals

Figure 3.1 — Variability Around the Mean. A dot plot of scores with the mean marked, vertical lines showing deviations, and shaded boxes for squared deviations.

Why This Matters

Two sets of data can have the same mean but very different spreads.
Variance and standard deviation give us the language to describe that spread.
They are the foundation for most inferential tests in statistics.

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