Glossary

Assomototic = value never reaches 0 (see exponential decay).
Bivariate = Interested in two variables (Polyvariate = 3+).
Confidence Limits = Range in which the true value probably lies, symbol t. Value 1 minus value 2 divided by the standard deviation.
Different Scale = The scale is different, this could be concentrations of Potassium and Sodium! Both are concentrations but the nutrient is different.
Exponential Decay = value is halved (or reduced by a constant value) everytime forming a curve that never reaches 0 (see graph).
Grouped = Data is grouped by another factor (i.e. heights per age).

Kurtosis = Slight diviations from the normal distribution, Leptokurtic and Platykurtic.
Linear = Straight line relationship (see graph).
Log = 1 divided by the reading value, this often straightens curved lines.
Mean = here
Median = The middle value when data is written in order (i.e. 1,1,2,3,4,4,4,5,6 the middle value is 4!).
Mode = The value that appears most frequently.
Nominal = Measured by words (i.e. male and female).
Normal Distribution = values form a humped curve where 95% of values fall within 2 Standard Deviations of the arithmetic mean.
Ordinal = On a ordered scale (i.e. arranged from shortest to tallest).
Paired Data = (grouped)Two sets of data are linked.
Polynominal = Three or more humps on the graph (example), binominal would have two humps.
Population Mean = The true mean for all the individuals to which the test applies (normally not known).
Quartile = Quarter of the total range of the data.
Reading = An individual datum.
Sample = A collection of datum (Readings).
Sample Mean = This is the mean value for the sample taken.
Single Scale = The scale is the same for each group (i.e. 10 ^oC and 20 ^oC).
Skew = (Random Distribution) Forms an offset hump (see graph), known as Poisson.
Standard Deviation = The mean minus the sample value, this is repeated for every reading value and all are added together and then squared. This is then divided by the total number of readings.