POL 3371 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Null Hypothesis, Statistical Significance, Dependent And Independent Variables

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 3371
• Professor: Ivan Katchanovski

Document Summary

Determines whether there is a relationship between two variables: dependent and independent variables. Widely used in political science: often misused, statistical significance does not always imply real-life significance, easier to get statistically significant results in large n (number of cases) studies: ex: very large number of respondents in surveys. Dependent variable: a variable assumed to depend on or be affected by the independent variable, a variable which we are interested in explaining. Independent variable: a variable which presumed to affect the dependent variable, a variable which we use to explain the dependent variables. Ex: membership in political parties in canada is affected by the level of education. A statement about the relationship between independent and dependent variables that we want to prove or disprove. Ex: membership in political parties in canada is affect by level of education. A statement of no difference between independent and dependent variables.