Introductory Concepts
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Two Definitions of Statistics
In common usage, statistics refers to
numerical facts.
As a science, statistics refers to a
group of methods that are used to
collect, analyze, present and interpret
data and to make decisions.
Four Basic Elements of Statistics
Data collection
Organization & presentation
Analysis
Interpretation
Two Types of Statistics
Descriptive Statistics consists of
methods for organizing, displaying,
and describing data using tables,
graphs and summary measures.
Inferential Statistics consists of
methods that use sample results to
help make decisions or predictions
about a population.
Descriptive / Inferential
As a result of a recent survey, many
Benildeans are in favor of a charter change.
As a result of the analysis of a company’s
revenue in the past five years, it projects a 50%
growth in the next five years.
At least 8% of all fires reported last year in a
certain city were caused by children playing
with matches.
A medical researcher wishes to test an anti-HIV
drug and determine its harmful side effects.
Descriptive / Inferential
A sports writer wishes to list the highest goal
makers in all basketball games in the last five
NCAA seasons.
As a result of text votes, a Philippine Idol
contestant expects to win in the forthcoming
final round.
Of all women in a certain city who have taken
birth control pills, 60% later developed
significant ill side effects.
As a result of recent cutbacks by government
offices, we can expect the unemployment rate
to double in the next year.
Important Terms
A population consists of all elements –
individuals, items, or objects – whose
characteristics are being studied. The
number of elements in a population is
called the population size (denoted by N).
A sample is a portion of the population
selected for study. The number of
elements in a sample is called the sample
size (denoted by n).
Important Terms
A parameter is any numerical data
describing the characteristics of a
population.
A statistic is any numerical data
describing a characteristic of a
sample.
Important Terms
A census is a survey that includes
every element of a population;
A sample survey includes only a
portion of the population
Important Terms
An element or member of a sample or
population is a specific subject or object
(for example, a person, firm, item , or
country) about which information is
collected.
A variable is a characteristic under study
that assumes different values for
different elements.
In contrast to a variable, the value of a
constant is fixed.
Important Terms
A variable can be
dependent or independent
discrete or continuous
quantitative or qualitative
Dependent or Independent
Variables
The dependent variable is the one
being explained in a study.
The independent variable is the one
used to explain the variation in the
dependent variable.
Dependent or Independent
Variables
Examples:
Elemsta final grade and Algeb final grade
Salary and rank of a faculty
Household food expense & working parents’
income
Attention span and age
Grades and number of absences
Demand for a product and its price
Discrete or Continuous
Variables
A variable whose values are a result of
counting is called a discrete variable. It
can assume only certain values with no
intermediate values.
A variable that can assume any numerical
value over a certain interval or is a
result of measurement is called a
continuous variable.
Discrete or Continuous
Variables
Examples:
Number of car accidents each year in Metro
Manila
Weight of grain in pounds produced per acre
Number of eggs laid each month by a hen
Amount of milk produced weekly by a
particular cow
Length of time required to solve a problem
set
Number of building permits issued each
month
Quantitative or Qualitative
Variables
A variable that can be measured
numerically is called a quantitative
variable.
A variable that cannot assume a numerical
value and on which mathematical
operations will have no meaning is
called a qualitative variable.
Quantitative or Qualitative
Variables
Examples:
Thermometer reading
Color of cars
Marital status
Monthly phone bills
Length of a frog’s jump
Zip codes
Important Terms
The value of a variable for an element is
called an observation or measurement.
There are four scales of measurement:
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio
Nominal Scale
Nominal – observed data are merely
classified into various distinct categories
in which no ordering is implied.
Examples:
Gender (Male/Female)
Ownership of a house (Yes/No)
Type of bank account (SA/PS/CA/TD/MM)
Religious affiliation (RC/INC/Baptist/Jehovah)
Ordinal Scale
Ordinal – observed data are classified into
distinct categories with ranking implied
in which the difference in rank is
consistent in direction but not in
magnitude.
Examples:
Year level
(Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior)
Product satisfaction (VS/S/U/VU)
Faculty rank (Lecturer/Instructor/Professor)
Restaurant ratings (*****/****/***/**/*)
Interval Scale
Interval – observed data are put in an
ordered scale in which the difference
between the measurements is a
meaningful quantity. (There are
numbers below zero.)
Examples:
Temperature in F° and C° (but not in Kelvin
scale)
Gregorian calendar
Standardized Tests
Sizes
Ratio Scale
Ratio – observed data are put in an ordered
scale in which the differences are
meaningful and equal at all points on the
scale and a measurement of zero (or
origin) means absence of the attribute
being measured.
Examples:
Age
Salary
Physical measurement
Speed or acceleration
Important Terms
A data set is a collection of observations on
one or more variables. Variable
Student Sex Final
Name Grade
Bob M 96
Carlos M 99
Jill F 79
Gerard M 88
Sheila F 70
Element/Member Observation/Measurement
Introductory Concepts
(fin)
