Chapter 1

What is Statistics?
 Statistics is that branch of science
which deals with the collection,
presentation, analysis, and interpretation
of data.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO study
STATISTICS?
 Like professional people, you must be
able to read and understand the various
statistical studies performed in your fields.
 You may be called to conduct research in
your field, since statistical procedures are
basic to research.
 You can also use the knowledge gained
from studying statistics to become better
consumers and citizens.
Statistics and the Life Sciences
 Resulting data from different
researches exhibit some variability
 Statistics is the science of
understanding data and of making
decisions in the face of variability
and uncertainty.
Example
To study the effect of bacteria on tumor
development, researchers used a strain of
mice with a naturally high incidence of liver
tumors .One group of mice were
maintained entirely germ free, while
another group were exposed to the
intestinal bacteria Escherichia coli. The
incidence of liver tumors is shown in Table
1.1.2
Example
Example
In an experiment on root metabolism, a
plant physiologist grew birch tree seedlings
in the greenhouse. He flooded four
seedlings with water for one day and kept
four others as controls. He then harvested
the seedlings and analyzed the roots for
adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The
measured amounts of ATP (nmoles per mg
tissue) are given in Table 1.1.3 and
displayed in Figure 1.1.1.3
Example
1.1 Basic Concepts
 Statistical Inquiry is a designed research
that provides information needed to solve a
research problem.

Steps in a Statistical Inquiry

 Identify the problem.
 Plan the study.
 Collect the data.
 Explore the data.
 Analyze and interpret the results.
 Present the results.
1.1 Basic Concepts
Population
is a collection of all the elements
(human or otherwise) under
consideration in a statistical study. that
are being studied.
Sample
is a group of subjects selected from a
population.
sample
population
1.1 Basic Concepts
Variable
is a characteristic or attribute that can assume
different values.

Data
are the values (measurements or
observations) that the variables can assume.

Data set
is a collection of data values. Each value in the
data set is called a data value or a datum.
1.1 Basic Concepts
Parameter
 is a summary measure describing a
specific characteristic of the population.

Statistic
 is a summary measure describing a
specific characteristic of the sample.
1.1 Basic Concepts
Example

The average weekly allowance of students

last year at a private high school was P
600.00 per week, based on an enrolment
of 1080 students. The third year students
who did not have this information
interviewed 50 students and found their
average weekly allowance last year to be P
550.00.
1. Identify the population and sample.
2. Identify the variable of interest.
3. Identify the parameter and the statistic.
1.2 Fields of Statistics
1. Applied Statistics- refer to procedures and
techniques used in the collection,
presentation, analysis, and interpretation of
data.

Descriptive Statistics
 consists of the collection, organization,
summarization and presentation of data
 the main concern is simply to describe the
set of data
 conclusions apply only to the data on hand
.
1.2 Fields of Statistics
1. Applied Statistics- refer to procedures and
techniques used in the collection,
presentation, analysis, and interpretation of
data.

Inferential Statistics
 methods concerned with making predictions or
inferences about a larger set of data using
only the information gathered from a sample
 the main concern is not merely to describe but
actually predict and make inferences based on
the information gathered
 conclusions are applicable to a which the data
on hand is only a subset
1.2 Fields of Statistics
2. Mathematical Statistics- deals with the
development and exposition of theories
that serve as bases of statistical methods.
1.3 Data Collection
Measurement
is the process of determining the value
or label of the variable based on what
has been observed.
1.3.1 Types of Variables

Variables

Quantitative
Quantitative variables assume
Qualitative
numerical values
and can be
ranked or
Discrete Continuous
ordered.
1.3.1 Types of Variables

Variables

Qualitative variables are

variables Quantitative
that can be Qualitative
placed into distinct
categories, according to
some characteristic or
Discrete
attribute. Continuous
1.3.1 Types of Variables

Variables

Quantitative Qualitative

Discrete variables
Discrete assume values that
Continuous
can be counted.
1.3.1 Types of Variables
Continuous variables
Variables
can assume an infinite
number of values.
They are obtained by
measuring. They
Quantitative often
Qualitative
include fractions and
decimals.

Discrete Continuous
1.3.2 Levels of Measurement

Levels of
Measurement

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

1.3.2 Levels of Measurement

Levels of
Measurement

Ordinal Interval Ratio

Classifies data into mutually exclusive

categories in which no order or ranking
can be imposed on the data.
1.3.2 Levels of Measurement

Levels of
Measurement

Nominal Interval Ratio

Classifies data into mutually exclusive

categories that can be ranked; however,
precise differences between the ranks
do not exist.
1.3.2 Levels of Measurement

Levels of
Measurement

Nominal Ordinal Ratio

Ranks data, and precise differences

between units of measure do exist;
however, there is no meaningful zero.
1.3.2 Levels of Measurement

Levels of
Measurement

Nominal Ordinal Interval

Possesses all the characteristics of interval

measurement, and there exists a true zero
point. In addition, true ratios exist when the
same variable is measured on two different
members of the population.
1.3.3 General Classification of
Data Collection
Two General Classification of Data Collection
1. Census or complete enumeration
 process of gathering information from every
unit in the population
2. Survey Sampling
 the process of obtaining information from the
units in the selected sample
1.3.3 General Classification of
Data Collection
Advantages of Survey Sampling
1. more economical
2. requires less time to accomplish
3. allows for a wider scope for the study
4. results can even be more accurate than
results based on a census
5. sometimes is the only feasible method
1.3.3 General Classification of
Data Collection
Data Collection Methods
1. Use of Documented Data
2. Survey Method
3. Experimental Method
4. Observation Method
1.3.4 Observational and Experimental
Studies
Observational Studies

 the researcher merely observes what

is happening or what has happened
in the past and tries to draw
conclusions based on these
observations
1.3.4 Observational and Experimental
Studies
Experimental Studies

 the researcher manipulates one of

the variables and tries to determine
how the manipulation influences
other variables
1.4 Sampling Techniques

Target population
• is the population we want to study.
• ideal population

Sampled population
• is the population from where we
actually select the sample.
1.4 Sampling Techniques

Elementary unit or element

• is a member of the population whose
measurement on the variable of
interest is what we wish to examine.

Sampling unit
• is a unit of the population that we
select in our sample
1-4 Sampling Techniques

Sampling frame or frame

• is a list or map showing all the sampling
units in the population.

Probability Sampling
• is a method of selecting a sample wherein
each element in the population has a
known, nonzero chance of being included
in the sample; otherwise, it is
nonprobability sampling.
1-4 Sampling Techniques

Four Basic Sampling Techniques

1. (Simple) Random Sampling

2. Systematic Sampling
3. Stratified Sampling
4. Cluster Sampling
1-4 Sampling Techniques

Four Basic Sampling Techniques

1. (Simple) Random Sampling

 Random samples are selected using

chance methods or random
numbers.
1.4 Sampling Techniques

Four Basic Sampling Techniques

2. Systematic Sampling

 Systematic samples are selected by

using every kth subject after the first
subject is randomly selected from 1
through k.
1.4 Sampling Techniques

Four Basic Sampling Techniques

3. Stratified Sampling

 Stratified samples are selected by

dividing up the population into
groups (strata), and subjects are
randomly selected within groups.
1.4 Sampling Techniques

Four Basic Sampling Techniques

4. Cluster Sampling

 Cluster samples are selected by

dividing up the population into
clusters, and a sample of clusters are
selected. All subjects in the selected
clusters are then included in the
sample.
1.5 Uses and Misuses of Statistics
Some Ways That Statistics Can Be
Misinterpreted
1. Suspect Samples
2. Ambiguous Averages
3. Changing the Subject
4. Detached Statistics
5. Implied Connections
6. Misleading Graphs
7. Faulty Survey Questions
References

Elementary Statistics (6th Edition). Bluman

Elementary Statistics. Almeda, Capistrano
and Sarte.
Introduction to Statistics (3rd Edition).
Walpole