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L 1 Intro

This document provides an introduction to statistics, including the aims of learning how to design data collection plans, analyze and interpret data, and develop quantitative skills. It covers probability concepts, descriptive statistics, estimation, inference, and computer applications. The key terms introduced are population, sample, variable, data, parameter, qualitative and quantitative variables, nominal and ordinal qualitative variables, and discrete and continuous quantitative variables. It also discusses data collection through surveys and different sample designs like random, proportional, cluster, and systematic samples.

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arsanios malak
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52 views16 pages

L 1 Intro

This document provides an introduction to statistics, including the aims of learning how to design data collection plans, analyze and interpret data, and develop quantitative skills. It covers probability concepts, descriptive statistics, estimation, inference, and computer applications. The key terms introduced are population, sample, variable, data, parameter, qualitative and quantitative variables, nominal and ordinal qualitative variables, and discrete and continuous quantitative variables. It also discusses data collection through surveys and different sample designs like random, proportional, cluster, and systematic samples.

Uploaded by

arsanios malak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO
STATISTICS

1
THE AIM OF THESE COURSE

• How to design data collection plans.


• How to analyze data appropriately and interpret
and draw conclusions from those analyses.
• The central object of the student that to teach the
consequently requisite quantitative skills that they
can employ and build on in flexible ways.

2
COURSE CONTENTS

• Probability concepts.
• Descriptive measures including central tendency
measures and dispersion measures.
• Estimation.
• Confidence intervals.
• Linear regression and correlation.
• Computer applications will also be illustrated
using a statistical package.

3
1.1: WHAT IS STATISTICS?

Statistics: The science of collecting, describing, and


interpreting data.
There are two areas of statistics:
Descriptive Statistics: collection (Survey), presentation
(Tables and graphs), and description of
sample data (measures).
Inferential Statistics: making decisions and drawing
conclusions about populations.

4
1.2: INTRODUCTION TO BASIC
TERMS

Population: A collection, or set, of individuals or objects or


events whose properties are to be analyzed. But it is
so large that it is logistically impossible to examine
all the individuals
Two kinds of populations: finite or infinite.
For example: A researcher may be interested in the relation
between class size (variable 1) and academic
performance (variable 2) for the population of
third-grade children.

5
vSample: A subset of the population.

vVariable: A characteristic about each individual


element of a population or sample.

vData : The set of values collected for the variable


from each of the elements belonging to the sample.

vParameter: A numerical value summarizing all the


data of an entire population.

6
Example
A college dean is interested in learning about the average age
of faculty. Identify the basic terms in this situation.

The population is the age of all faculty members at the


college.
A sample is any subset of that population. For example, we
might select 10 faculty members and determine their age.
The variable is the “age” of each faculty member.
The data would be the set of values in the sample.
The parameter is the “average” age of all faculty at the
college.

7
1.3: KINDS OF VARIABLES

Qualitative Variable Quantitative Variable

A variable that categorizes or A variable that quantifies an


describes an element of a element of a population.
population.
Example: *temperature degree
Example : * blood types
*heights of student
* colors
* genders
8
QUALITATIVE AND
QUANTITATIVE VARIABLES MAY
BE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED:

Nominal
Qualitative
Ordinal
Variable
Discrete
Quantitative
Continuous

9
Nominal Variable: A qualitative variable that categorizes,
describes or names) an element of a population.
Ordinal Variable: A qualitative variable that incorporates an
ordered position, or ranking.
Discrete Variable: A quantitative variable that can assume a
countable number of values. Intuitively, a discrete
variable can assume values corresponding to
isolated points along a line interval. That is, there
is a gap between any two values.
Continuous Variable: A quantitative variable that can assume an
uncountable number of values. Intuitively, a
continuous variable can assume any value along
a line interval, including every possible value
between any two values.
10
Note:

1. In many cases, a discrete and continuous variable may


be distinguished by determining whether the
variables are related to a count or a measurement.
2. Discrete variables are usually associated with
counting. If the variable cannot be further
subdivided, it is a clue that you are probably dealing
with a discrete variable.
3. Continuous variables are usually associated with
measurements. The values of discrete variables are
only limited by your ability to measure them.
11
EXAMPLE:
ID E N T IF Y E A C H O F T H E F O L L O WIN G E X A MP L E S A S
Q U A L ITAT IV E O R Q U A N T ITAT IV E (NUMERICAL)
VA R IA B L E S .

1. The residence hall for each student in a statistics class.


(qualitative-nominal)
2. The amount of gasoline pumped by the next 10 customers
at the local gas station.
(Numerical- continuous)
3.The color of the baseball cap worn by each of 20 students.
(qualitative-nominal)
4. The length of time to complete a mathematics homework
assignment.
(Numerical- continuous) 12
5. The number of children that family can have.
(Numerical- discreat)
6. The grade point average GPA of any student
(Numerical- continuous)

13
1.4: DATA COLLECTION

• First problem a statistician faces: how to


obtain the data.
• It is important to obtain good, or
representative, data.
• We collect data by survey or sample

14
TYPE OF SAMPLE

There are many different types of sample


designs:
• Random Samples
• Proportional Sample (or Quota Sample)
• Cluster Sample
• Systematic Sample

15
Note:
• Random Samples: A sample selected in such a way that every
element in the population has a equal probability of being
chosen. Equivalently, all samples of size n have an equal
chance of being selected.

• Sampling Frame: A list of the elements belonging to the


population from which the sample will be drawn.

16

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