A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

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What statistical method would you apply to infer from sample data to a broader population?

Descriptive statistics
Inferential statistics
Regression analysis
Non-parametric tests

The correct answer is: Inferential statistics

Inferential statistics is the correct choice for this question because it specifically deals with making generalizations and predictions about a population based on sample data. This method employs various techniques to draw conclusions and determine the probability of certain outcomes. By utilizing inferential statistics, researchers can estimate population parameters, test hypotheses, and make predictions while taking into account the natural variability within data. Descriptive statistics, on the other hand, focuses on summarizing and organizing sample data without making inferences about a bigger population. While regression analysis is a specific technique used to examine relationships between variables, it is a subset of inferential statistics and does not encompass the broader process of drawing general conclusions. Non-parametric tests are statistical methods that do not assume a specific distribution for the data; while they can also be used for drawing inferences, they are often applied in situations where traditional parametric tests are not suitable. Thus, inferential statistics is the overarching method that encompasses these other techniques aimed at making broader inferences.