Statistics in psychology: how psychological data is analyzedIntroduction17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted rape or rape (National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 1998; Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network [RAINN], 2009) and were three times more likely to suffer from depression (World Health Organization, 2002; RAINN, 2009). Statistics like these help psychologists know how common an incident is and determine what is wrong with their patient, thus being able to treat them more effectively. Statistics, like the ones above, apply daily in psychology, are extremely important and analyzed in a specific way. How Statistics is Used in Psychology Most research in psychology involves measuring and analyzing observations of certain characteristics of a population or sample of a population (Statistics). for psychology, nd). In other words, it involves the use of statistics. Statistics indicates whether or not one variable affects another variable (Cherry K., nd). Psychology would not be as useful if psychologists did not know how an incident can affect an individual and their future, or how well a technique works to raise certain issues. To begin, a psychiatrist would ask a question and design a relevant research experiment. . They must then collect data in an unbiased manner, such as in a double-blind trial, using psychometric instruments to measure psychological states (Why Study Statistics in Psychology, 2007). Once the experiment is complete and all possible data collected, the psychiatrist would use statistics to measure the relationship using the collected data (Cherry K., n.d.). Statistics then analyzes the observations, or data...... middle of paper ...l (nd). Data analysis and presentation of results. Retrieved from http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/psychology/research-methods/revise-it/data-analysis-and-presentation-of-resultsSmart Psych. (2012). Research methods: Data analysis. Psychology Press Ltd. Retrieved from http://www.smartpsych.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/psych_methods1.pdfStatistics for Psychology. (nd). University of Guelph. Retrieved from http://www.learningcommons.uoguelph.ca/guides/university_learning/handout/highlighting.pdfWhy study statistics in psychology? (2007). Qualitative and quantitative statistics; SPSS PASW. Retrieved from http://psychologytutor.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/why-study-statistics-in-psychology/World Health Organization. (2002). World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assult-victims