Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


weight

n.

1. heaviness: the extent of downward gravitational force exerted on an object or body.

2. a coefficient or multiplier used in an equation or statistical investigation and applied to a particular variable to reflect the contribution to the data. For example, a weighted sample is one in which different values are applied to its different constituent subgroups to reflect their representation within the larger population from which it was taken. Thus, if a population is 50% male and 50% female but the sample studied is 40% and 60%, respectively, different multipliers could be used to adjust the individual subsample results to match the makeup of the population. Similarly, a weighted least squares regression is a version of ordinary least squares regression in which different variables contribute differentially to the analysis process according to their relative importance. See weighting.

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

December 23rd 2024

mental health clinic

mental health clinic

an outpatient facility for the diagnosis and treatment of psychological and behavioral problems.