Statistics: Introduction (Part 1)
Prepared by:
Engr. Fernando B. Canlas
Chapter Outline
Definition of Statistics
Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Qualitative and Quantitative
Discrete and Continuous Variables
Statistics: Definition
Statistics are mathematical tools
used to organize, summarize, and
manipulate data.
Statistics is the science that deals
with the collection, organization,
presentation, analysis and
interpretation of data.
Population and Sample
Population consists of all the
subjects (people, objects, events)
that are being studied.
Sample is the unbiased estimate of
the population.
Parameter and Statistic
Parameter is the numerical value
that describes the characteristics of a
population.
Statistic is any quantity obtained
from a sample.
Data
Scores on variables.
Information expressed as numbers
(quantitatively).
Variables
Traits that can change values from
case to case.
Examples:
◼ Age
◼ Gender
◼ Race
◼ Social class
Case
◼ The entity from which data is gathered.
◼ Examples
People
Groups
States and nations
The Role of Statistics:Example
Describe the age of students in this
class.
Identify the following:
◼ Variable
◼ Data
◼ Cases
◼ Appropriate statistics
The Role Of Statistics: Example
Variable is age.
Data is the actual ages (or scores
on the variable age): 18, 22, 23, etc.
Cases are the students.
The Role Of Statistics: Example
Appropriate statistics include:
◼ average - average age of students in
this class is 21.7 years.
◼ percentage - 15% of students are older
than 25
Statistical Applications
Two main statistical applications:
◼ Descriptive statistics
◼ Inferential statistics
Descriptive Statistics
Summarize variables one at a time.
Summarize the relationship between
two or more variables.
Descriptive Statistics
Univariate descriptive statistics
include:
◼ Percentages, averages, and various
charts and graphs.
◼ Example: On the average, students are
20.3 years of age.
Descriptive Statistics
Bivariate descriptive statistics
describe the strength and direction of
the relationship between two
variables.
◼ Example: Older students have higher
GPAs.
Descriptive Statistics
Multivariate descriptive statistics
describe the relationships between
three or more variables.
◼ Example: Grades increase with age for
females but not for males.
Inferential Statistics
Generalize from a sample to a
population.
◼ Population includes all cases in
which the research is interested.
◼ Samples include carefully chosen
subsets of the population.
Inferential Statistics
Voter surveys are a common
application of inferential statistics.
◼ Several thousand carefully selected
voters are interviewed about their voting
intentions.
◼ This information is used to estimate the
intentions of all voters (millions of
people).
◼ Example: The Republican candidate will
receive about 42% of the vote.
Types Of Variables
Variables may be:
◼ Independent or dependent
◼ Qualitative or quantitative
◼ Discrete or continuous
◼ Nominal, ordinal, interval or ratio
Types Of Variables
In causal relationships:
CAUSE → EFFECT
independent variable → dependent variable
◼ Examples:
◼ My final grade in Statistics depends on
my overall performance in the subject.
◼ The diameter of a cable greatly affects
its resistance.
Types Of Variables
Qualitative variables are classified
according to some attributes or
categories.
◼ Ex: gender, eye color, religion, course
Quantitative variables are classified
according to numerical
characteristics.
◼ Ex: age, height, scores, velocity
Types Of Variables
Discrete variables are measured in
units that cannot be subdivided.
◼ Example: Number of children
Continuous variables are measured
in a unit that can be subdivided
infinitely.
◼ Example: Age