Introduction to Statistics – Flashcards
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Why study statistics?
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Data is everywhere.
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Data Definition
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Information from observations, counts, measurements, or responses.
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Statistics Definition (from teacher)
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The science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data.
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Parameter Definition
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A number which describes a characteristic of a population.
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Statistic Definition (in book)
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A number which describes a characteristic of a sample.
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Branches of Statistics
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Descriptive and Inferential
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Descriptive Definition
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The organization, summarization, and display of data.
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Inferential Definition
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Uses a sample to find conclusions, analyzations, and probability about a population.
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Why is a sample used more often than a population?
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Because it is more difficult to get an accurate population where as a sample is smaller and easier to assess.
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Types of data:
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To put in order (good, better, best).
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Types of qualitative data:
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Nominal and Ordinal
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Types of quantitative data:
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Interval and Ratio
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Nominal
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To list based on names.
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Ordinal
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Qualitative and quantitative
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Interval
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To find the mathematical difference. Including temperatures and dates.
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Ratio
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To find a ratio between two things. Including weight and time.
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4 ways to collect data:
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Observation, Experiment, Surveys, and Simulations.
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Observation
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Study where you observe and record the outcome of a variable. Relatively easy to perform and can show correlation but not causation because of confounding variables.
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Example of Observation
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Doctors in the 50's noticed that there was a correlation between smoking and lung disease.
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Experiment
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Study where you impose a treatment and record the outcome and compare outcomes with a control group. Can show causation (may be difficult due to ethical/physical complications).
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Example of Experiment
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At a college, ½ got laptops, ½ got paper for notes, the ones with paper did better on the test.
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Surveys
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Ask a random sample of subjects well worded questions and record responses. Difficult to avoid bias.
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Simulation
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Using technology to simulate an actual event. Used when the event would be too dangerous or too expensive to do in real life.
