Lecture-1: Introduction to

Basic Concepts of Statistics

DS-2420 Statistics for Social Science
Jarin Musarat Chowdhury
Lecturer
Department of Development Studies
Bangladesh University of Professionals
Content

• Defining statistics
• Characteristics of statistics
• Descriptive and Inferential statistics
• Variables and types of variables
• Distrust of statistics
 Which one is a statistical data?

Eating 10 grams of fiber a day reduces the risk of heart attack by 14%
Early marriage that is marriage before 18 and 21 years for girls and
boys in Bangladesh remains high.

Overall budget deficit in Bangladesh in FY2023-24 is

estimated to be BDT 2,61,785 crore which is 5.2 per cent of
the GDP.
Statistics is the science of conducting study that is concerned with the
collection, classification, interpretation, analysis or the numerical and
categorical data and facts, and drawing conclusions, so as to present the
same in a systematic manner.
Statistics is the science of generalizing concepts from large amount of data
 Study on academic performance in relation
with sleeping hours.
Data collection: Determine a sample size. Choose samples. Collect data on
academic grade and sleeping hour.
Classification: Organize the collected data into spreadsheets or databases.
Categorize data points based on relevant variables e.g., sleep duration groups,
academic subject types). Create visual representations like histograms or
scatterplots to identify initial patterns.
Interpretation: Describe the data using measures of central tendency (mean,
median) and dispersion (range, standard deviation). Look for correlations
between sleep duration and academic performance e.g., do students who sleep
more have higher grades?).
Analysis: Apply statistical tests like t-tests or ANOVA to assess the significance
of any observed relationships.
Drawing Conclusions: Based on the statistical analysis, formulate clear and
concise conclusions about the relationship between sleep habits and academic
performance. Avoid absolute statements and acknowledge limitations. Discuss
the implications of the findings for students, educators, and policymakers.
 Characteristics of statistics
1. Statistics should deal with aggregate of individuals rather than individuals
alone.
2. Statistics should be expressed as numerical figures
3. Statistics should have the property of being varied by multiplicity of
causes.
4. Statistics collected should have a reasonable standard of accuracy
5. Statistics should be obtained for pre-determined cause
6. Statistics should facilitate comparison.
Population
and
Sample
 Data and Variables
Variable: Variable is a characteristic or attribute that can assume different
values
Data: Data is the information collected about variables. It refers to the
specific values or observations of a variable for each individual or item in a
Remember:
study.
Variables are the containers, like measuring cups. They define what we're
interested in.
Data are the things we put in the containers, like the actual amount of flour or
sugar. It's the specific information about the variable.
 Cont.
Variable Data
Your age 22 years old
The height of a plant 10 centimeters
Color of a car Red
 Cont.
Variable- Sleeping duration and academic grade
Data- Sleeping duration Academic grade

Sample 1 5 hours CGPA-3.9

Sample 2 6 hours CGPA- 3.85

Sample 3 3 CGPA- 3.36

Sample 4 4 CGPA- 3.25

 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
• Descriptive statistics consists of the collection, organization,
summarization and presentation of data. (Describe a situation)
• Inferential statistics consists of generalization from large amount of data
and draw probable conclusions.
 Sleeping duration Academic grade

Sample 1 5 hours CGPA-3.9

Sample 2 6 hours CGPA- 3.85

Sample 3 3 CGPA- 3.36

Sample 4 4 CGPA- 3.25

Descriptive statistics Inferential statistics

50% students sleep for 5-6 hours and For a higher grade, it is required that
have a CGPA above 3.8. On the students sleep for 5-6 hours/day on
other hand, 50% students sleep for average.
3-4 hours and a CGPA below 3.4.
 Independent and dependent variable
Reason/explanatory variable Result/outcome variable
 Distrust of statistics
• Suspect samples
• Ambiguous average
• Changing the subject
• Detached statistics
• Implied connections
• Misleading graphs
• Faulty survey questions
• Reference book:
An Introduction to Statistics and Probability- M. Nurul Islam