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continuous distribution

a distribution in which values can occur anywhere along an unbroken continuum. An example would be any distribution showing variation in human height or weight. A continuous distribution can be plotted as a single smooth line, and it may be used to display the likelihood of specific values occurring (a continuous probability distribution) or the actual number of times they have been observed to occur, such as in a research sample (a continuous frequency distribution). Compare discrete distribution. See also continuous variable.

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Psychology term of the day

May 10th 2024

power

power

n.

1. the capacity to influence others, even when they try to resist this influence. Social power derives from a number of sources: control over rewards (reward power) and punishments or other force (coercive power); a right to require and demand obedience (legitimate power); others’ identification with, attraction to, or respect for the powerholder (referent power); others’ belief that the powerholder possesses superior skills and abilities (expert power); and the powerholder’s access to and use of informational resources (informational power).

2. a measure of how effective a statistical procedure is at identifying real differences between populations: It is the probability that use of the procedure will lead to the null hypothesis of no effect being rejected when the alternative hypothesis is true. For example, if a given statistical test has a power of .70, then there is a 70% probability that its use will result in the null hypothesis correctly being rejected as false, with a corresponding 30% chance that its use will lead to a Type II error. Power ranges from 0 to 1, with values of .80 or above generally considered acceptable.

3. a mathematical notation that indicates the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself.