Stat 110, Lecture 1

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Some definitions:

Statistics is the science of data. This involves

collecting, classifying, summarizing, organizing,
and interpreting data.

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The branch of statistics devoted to the
organization, summarization and description of
data sets is called descriptive statistics.

… vs inferential statistics.

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A population is a “data set in principle” that is the
target of our interest.

A sample is a subset of data from a population.

The branch of statistics concerned with using

sample data to make an inference about a
population is called inferential statistics.

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 Statistics

No Data Some Data Way Too

Much Data

Probability Inferential Descriptive

Statistics Statistics

Numerical Graphical
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Quantitative data are those that represent the
quantity or amount of something.
Interval: adding and subtracting make sense.
Ratio: zero value is meaningful.

Qualitative data are those that have no quantitative

interpretation, i.e. they can only be classified into
categories.
Nominal data consist of labels,
Ordinal data consist of ordered categories.
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Examples:

Quantitative:
• Centigrade temperature (interval)
• Kelvin temperature (ratio)

Qualitative:
• Vendor code (nominal).
• Customer preference ranking (ordinal).

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The Role of Statistics
• Strategies for collecting data in the face Design
of finite resources.
• Establishing language by which we can Measure
talk and think about variability.
• Understanding what can be learned from Analyze
a finite amount of data subject to
uncertainty.
• Making good decisions in the presence of Improve
uncertain knowledge.
• Take steps to detect unanticipated Control
departures from what we intend.
“DMAIC”
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