parametric statistic
- noun
- /ˌpærəˈmɛtrɪk ˈstætɪstɪk/
- Specialized
- In the analysis of the data, researchers relied on parametric statistics to validate their hypotheses based on a normal distribution.
Examples
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To control for differences in grade-level performance, parametric statistics were used for all analyses (see Note 2).
Academic text (2013) -
The main limitation of both is that they are parametric statistics. As such, they make assumptions about single-case data that are rarely all met.
Academic text (2013) -
When assessing the effects of medication, scientists often apply parametric statistics to ensure the underlying assumptions about the data are fulfilled.
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Using parametric statistics allowed the researchers to derive conclusions that were statistically significant, but they acknowledged the importance of meeting distribution assumptions.
How Parametric
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'parametric' (expressed in terms of parameters) and 'statistic' (a numerical summary), so a learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer it refers to a statistic that depends on parameters. However, the full technical meaning — involving assumptions about specific probability distributions and methodological implications — requires subject‑matter knowledge beyond simple composition, so it is not fully predictable to a general B1 learner.
Etymology
Parametric statistic comes from the word parameter, which means a fixed rule or shape for data. Think of measuring with a template that fits one pattern. Because it uses that fixed rule, a parametric statistic only works when the data follow a 'known pattern'.