I E101

ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS

Mo du l e 1 – Pa r t
1 Probability and Statistics
Review of Basic Concepts of
Objectives

 At the end of Module 1, the student should be able to

recall the following concepts:
 Demonstrate knowledge of different statistical terms.
 Differentiate between the two branches of statistics.
 identify types of data.
 Identify the measurement level for each variable.
 identify the four basic sampling techniques.
Definition of Statistical
Concepts and Principles
Introduction
 In order to learn about something, you must first collect
data.
 Statistics consists of conducting studies to collect,
organize, summarize, analyze, and draw conclusions.
 Statistics is the art of learning from data.
Introduction
 Why do we study Statistics?
 Students and professional people, must be able to read
and understand the various statistical studies performed
in their fields.
o Knowledgeable about the vocabulary, symbols, concept,
and statistical procedures used in these studies.
o Able to design experiments; collect, organize, analyze,
and summarized data; make prediction or forecast.
Introduction
 To gain knowledge about events, statisticians collect
information for variables, which describe the events.
 A variable is a characteristics or attribute that can assume
different values.
 Data are the values (measurements or observations) that
the variables can assume.
 A collection of data values forms a data set.
 Each value in the data set is called a data value or a
datum.
Introduction
 At the end of an experiment, the data should be described
and summarized.
 This part of statistics concerned with the description
and summarization of data, is called descriptive
statistics.
 After the experiment is completed and the data are
described and summarized, we hope to be able to draw a
conclusion.
 This part of statistics concerned with the drawing of
conclusions, is called inferential statistics.
Introduction
 The body of knowledge, known as statistics, is sometimes
divided in two areas, depending on how data are used.
 Descriptive statistics consists of the collection,
organization, summation, and presentation of data.
 Inferential statistics consists of generalizing from
samples to populations, performing hypothesis testing,
determining relationships among variables, and making
predictions.
Introduction
 In statistics, we are interested in obtaining information
about a total collection of elements, but the total is often
too large for us to examine each of its members, so to
learn about the group we simply examine a subgroup.
o A population consists of all subjects (human or
otherwise) that are being studied.
o A sample is a subgroup of the population.
Data Collection and Sampling
 Data can be collected in a variety of ways.
 One of the most common methods is using surveys.
 Surveys can be done by using a variety of methods:
o Examples are telephone, mail, questionnaires, personal
interviews, surveying records and direct observations.
Data Collection and Sampling
To obtain samples that are unbiased, statisticians use four
methods of sampling.
o Random samples are selected by using chance
methods or random numbers.
o Systematic samples are obtained by numbering each
value in the population and then selecting the kth
value.
o Stratified samples are selected by dividing the
population into groups (strata) according to some
characteristic and then taking samples from each
group.
o Cluster samples are selected by using an intact group
that is representative of the population.
Variables and Type of Data
 Qualitative variables are variables that can be placed
into distinct categories, according to some characteristic or
attribute.
o For example, gender (male or female).

 Quantitative variables are numerical in nature and can

be ordered or ranked.
o Example: age is numerical and the values can be
ranked.
Variables and Type of Data
 Under the Quantitative variables

 Discrete variables assume values that can be

counted.
o For example, the number of students in the
classroom.

 Continuous variables can assume all values

between any two specific values. They are obtained by
measuring.
o For example, the temperature inside the classroom.
Variables and Type of Data
 In addition, variables can be classified by how they are
categorized, counted or measured.
o The nominal level of measurement classifies data into
mutually exclusive (nonoverlapping), exhausting categories in
which no order or ranking can be imposed on the data.
 For example, a sample of instructors classified according
to subject taught.
 Political party
o The ordinal level of measurement classifies data into
categories that can be ranked; precise differences between
the ranks do not exist.
 For example, a teacher can be ranked as superior, average,
or poor.
 For example, a student can be ranked as first place, second
place, third place,….
Variables and Type of Data
 The interval level of measurement ranks data; precise
differences between units of measure do exist; there is no
meaningful zero.
o For example, temperature, there is a meaningful difference
of 1 F between each unit. Also 0 F does not mean no heat at
all.
o For example, IQ, there is a meaningful difference of 1 point
between an IQ of 109 and an IQ of 110. Also, IQ tests do not
measure people who have no intelligence.
Variables and Type of Data
 The ratio level of measurement possesses all the
characteristics of interval measurement, and there exists a
true zero. In addition, true ratios exist for the same
variable.
o For example, height, weight, area.
o For example, if one person can lift 200 lbs and another
can lift 100 lbs, then the ratio between them is 2 to 1,
the first person can lift twice as much as the second
person.
Variables and Type of Data

Qualitative Quantitative

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio