In science research, there are many types of questions. Many questions fit into the following categories:
| Type of Question | Example Question | Types of Statistics | Key Word(s) That Triggers Things |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive | What is the bulk density of the soil at Gribble Gap? | Descriptive: Means, medians modes, range, standard deviation | Is or Are |
| Compare Groups | Is the bulk density different at site 1 and site 2 within Gribble Gap? | T-test, Z-test, ANOVAs, K-S, Chi-Square | Difference or same |
| Relationship | Is the bulk density related to grain size at Gribble Gap? | Linear or non-linear regression | Relation or relationship |
So depending on what you are interested in, a first step is to think about what kind of question you have. Once you have that it should lead directly to the way you set up your study, and ultimately to the statistics you might need to do your study.
If you would like to see what statistics you might need for comparing groups or relationship questions, then see the following:
This flowchart has been modified from one that a colleague, Joni Bugden-Storie, created for her students.