Statistical data is useful for analyzing trends and
patterns of behavior in all walks of life. Statistics allow financial planners to make
potentially life-changing decisions and they allow analysts to make predictions in many
fields. In the behavioral sciences, psychologists may use statistics because it allows
for the establishment of models and allows them to predict behavior based on the
findings of the data. When analyzing statistics for psychology, the results are complied
in much the same way as for financial statistics but obviously the sample being measured
is assessed for reasons such as, for example how peer pressure affects
teenagers.
Terminology is much the same and there are
dependent and independent variables, samples and populations, scales and intervals and
inferential and descriptive statistics. Qualitative and quantitative information are
both relevant and considered for their objective and / or subjective value. Quantitative
information allows researchers to express averages and norms in behavior on a large
scale. It is descriptive in nature whereas qualitative information measures such things
as characteristics, emotions and behavior patterns but which cannot be quantified and
which are therefore measured on a much smaller scale. In qualitative research, trends
are often established after the collection of information and once the data has been
analyzed making it a more personalized
approach.
Interpretation is key in all statistics and in
behavioral statistics it is extremely important in helping psychologists understand
certain types of behavior so that they can guide their patients towards better health or
coping mechanisms or lifestyle changes. By establishing general and expected patterns of
behavior, it is possible to help the greatest number of people and behavioral statistics
makes it possible for specialists to make informed decisions with the help of these
trusted and reliable statistics.
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