paired sample

any research sample in which each participant is matched on a particular variable to a participant in a second sample. This helps ensure that any differences on an outcome variable are not due to differences between participants on the matching variables. A simple example of a paired sample is a pretest–posttest design, in which a variable is measured before and after an intervention; in this case, the participant is matched to himself or herself. More frequently, paired samples are achieved by matching individuals on personal characteristics, such as age and gender. See matched-pairs design.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

ordinate

n. the vertical coordinate in a graph or data plot; that is, the y-axis. See also abscissa.