BASIC STATISTICS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Objectives
1. Understand the meaning of statistics and objective of statistics.
2. Differentiate different types of statistics and their preliminary function.
3. Have clear idea about population and sample.
4. Can be able to distinguish between different types of data and identify different types
of variable.
Content
Statistics and types of statistics
Population and sample
Parameter and statistic
Sampling
Data
Variable and types of variable
DEFINITION
Statistics may be defined as the science of collecting, organizing, analyzing,
summarizing, interpreting numerical data and making valid inferences or
conclusion on the base of the data.
Collection refers to the gathering of information or data.
Organization or presentation involves summarizing data or information in textual,
graphical, or tabular forms.
Analysis involves describing the data by using statistical methods and procedures.
Interpretation refers to the process of making conclusions based on the analyzed
data.
Types Of Statistics
1. Descriptive statistics
2. Inferential statistics.
Definition
1. Descriptive statistics: Descriptive statistics involve graphical and numerical procedures
that are used to summarize and process data and to transform data into information.
Data Transform Information
3.
Example:
A Gallup poll found that 49% of the people in a survey knew the name of the first book of
the bible. The statistic 49 describes the number out of every 100 persons who knew the
answer.
Definition
2. Inferential statistics: Inferential statistics are used to make inferences about a population
from a sample in order to generalize (make assumptions about this wider population)
and/or make predictions about the future. Inferential statistics provide the bases for
prediction, forecasts and estimates that are used to transform information into knowledge.
Transform
Information
Prediction/ Estimation
Knowledge
Example:
TV networks constantly monitor the popularity of their programs by hiring nielsen and other
organizations to sample the preferences of TV viewer
Descriptive can answer the questions like
1. How many students are interested to take statistics online?
2. What are the highest and lowest scores obtained by applicants this year ?
3. What are the characteristics of the most likable teacher according to
students?
4. What proportion of CSE students likes mathematics?
Inferential can answer the questions like
1. Is there a significant difference in the academic performance of male
and female students in statistics?
2. Is there a significant difference between the proportions of students who
prefer coke than Pepsi?
3. Is there a significant relationship between amount of time studied and
grades received?
4. Is there a significant difference between the biology scores of 30
students before and after taking memory plus for 15 days?
CLASS EXCERCISE
Tell whether the following situations will make use of descriptive statistics or inferential
statistics.
1. A teacher computes the average grade of her students and then determines the top
ten students.
2. A manager or a business firm predicts future sales of the company based on the
present sales.
3. A psychologist investigates if there is a significant relationship between mental age
and chronological age.
4. A researcher studies the effectiveness of a new fertilizer to increasing food production.
5. A janitor counts the number of various furniture inside the school.
6. 6. A sports journalist determines the most popular basketball player for this year.
7. A school administrator forecast future expansion of a school.
8. A market vendor investigates the most popular brand of vinegar.
9. An engineer calculates the average height of the buildings along Taft avenue.
10. A dermatologist tests the relative effectiveness of a new brand of medicine in curing
POPULATION VS
SAMPLE
Population: A population is a collection of all possible
individuals, objects, or measurements of interest.
Sample: A sample is a representative part of the
population.
Census: Collection of data from every member of a
population.
Parameter: A parameter is a measurable characteristic of
a population. It is usually referred to as the true or actual value.
Example: the researcher uses the whole population of DIU to get
the average CGPA of DIU students
Statistic: A statistic is a measurable characteristic of a
sample. Example: The researcher uses the sample (n=200) to get the
EXAMPLES
Population – Total number of DIU students during the year 2011
Sample – Second year students of DIU during during the year
2011
Give your own examples!
BASIC TERMS
Elements or members of a sample or population is a specific subject or object(for
example, a person, firm, item, state or country) example: YOU as a member of the DIU
population.
Data (singular form is datum)are numbers or measurements that are collected as a result
from observation, interview, questionnaire, experimentation, test and so forth.
Variable that changes its characteristics with respect to different aspects. Such as height,
weight etc.
Qualitative or attribute variable the characteristic being studied is nonnumeric. Example:
gender, eye color, types of car etc.
In a quantitative variable information is reported numerically. Example: balance in your
account, no of children in a family.
Quantitative variables can be classified as either
discrete or continuous.
Discrete variables can only assume certain values and there are usually
“gaps” between values.
Example: the number of bedrooms in a house, or the number of hammers
sold at the local home depot (1, 2, 3, etc).
A continuous variable can assume any value within a specified range.
Example: the weight of a chop, the height of students in a class.
CLASS EXERCISE
Classify the following as quantitative or qualitative data
1. Color of the eye
2. Number of typewriters in a room
3. Civil status
4. Address
5. Telephone numbers
6. Age of teachers
7. Rank of students
8. Speed of a car
9. Birth rates
10. Score in mathematics examination
Identify each of the following as continuous or discrete
1. Weight of a body 7. Amount of sales in a business
firm
2. Length of a rod
8. All rational numbers
3. Number of chairs in the room
9. Speed of light
4. Dimensions of a table
10. Area of a land
5. Number of possible outcomes in
11. Lifetime of television tubes and
throwing a die
batteries
6. Number of hairs on your head
12. Life span of a person
13. Number of passengers in a
plane.