Inference
Inference is a process whereby a conclusion is drawn without complete certainty, but with some degree of probability relative to the evidence on which it is based.
Survey data may be used for description or for analysis. Descriptive uses include making estimates of population totals, averages, and proportions. Analytical uses include testing hypotheses about the population. The analytical uses involve making statistical inferences. For example, a descriptive use of survey data would be to supply an estimate of the number of male and female engineers. An analytical use would be to infer (based on valid statistical procedures) that there are significantly fewer female engineers than male engineers. Another descriptive use of survey data would be to supply the average salary of teachers. An inferential use would ...
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Reader's Guide
Ethical Issues In Survey Research
Measurement - Interviewer
Measurement - Mode
Measurement - Questionnaire
Measurement - Respondent
Measurement - Miscellaneous
Nonresponse - Item-Level
Nonresponse - Outcome Codes And Rates
Nonresponse - Unit-Level
Operations - General
Operations - In-Person Surveys
Operations - Interviewer-Administered Surveys
Operations - Mall Surveys
Operations - Telephone Surveys
Political And Election Polling
Public Opinion
Sampling, Coverage, And Weighting
Survey Industry
Survey Statistics
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