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2. A Few Keywords and Definitions for Understanding Statistics – VII (contd.)

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2.10 Research Methods (Contd.)     Too often it's not just enough to be able to describe an event or a phenomenon, but also to study the relationship between two different entities or properties or to predict one variable from another. Such predictability provides a more accurate understanding of phenomena and, at the same time the power to construct evidence-based theoretical premises and the ability to explain processes, behaviors, and phenomena better. These methods may be termed as predictive or relational research methods and there are broadly two methods that allow such power and predictability namely the 1) the Correlational methods , and 2) the Experimental methods . The Correlational method assesses the extent of the relationship between two measured variables. If there is a considerable correlation between two variables, then it is possible to predict one variable from the other with a fair degree of accuracy. For example, there is a high correlation betw...

2. A Few Keywords and Definitions for Understanding Statistics – VI (contd.)

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                2.10         Research Methods     In the last post, we touched upon the concepts of reliability and validity and how they help determine the effectiveness of the measures we use in statistics. We are now inching closer to finishing basic know-how of terms and keywords to get acquainted with the field of statistics. We have now arrived at a point where we are transitioning from the 'what' and 'why' to the 'how' of statistics while exploring the basic ideas and principles to get a feel of statistics.    In this context, there is an important distinction we need to make between how we implement all these basic ideas and principles toward our research goals. This has to do with the methods of research that tie the ideas discussed thus far into applicable knowledge. These make the most of statistical learning as related to research applications, however, c...