Statistics: Introduction

Prepared by:
Engr. Fernando B. Canlas
Chapter Outline
 Why Study Statistics?
 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
 Qualitative and Quantitative
 Discrete and Continuous Variables
 Level of Measurement
 Collection of Data
 Methods of Collection of Data
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