Engineering Statistics Fundamentals Environmental Eng. Dep.

Fundamentals
1-1 Introduction
There are many meanings used to define the statistics. Where in the
past it was mean counting the numbers of the newborn and the dead
people or the data of state of weather, temperatures, wind velocity, …etc.
While, in now a days it means presenting data in tables or graphs then :
Meaning of Statistics
The term statistics mean that the numerical statement as well as
statistical methodology. When it is used in the sense of statistical data it
refers to quantitative aspects of things and is a numerical description.

Example: Income of family, production of automobile industry, sales of

cars etc. These quantities are numerical. But there are some quantities,
which are not in themselves numerical but can be made so by counting.
The sex of a baby is not a number, but by counting the number of boys,
we can associate a numerical description to sex of all newborn babies, for
an example, when saying that 60% of all live-born babies are boy. This
information then, comes within the realm of statistics.

Definition
The word statistics can be used is two senses, viz, singular and plural.
In narrow sense and plural sense, statistics denotes some numerical data
(statistical data). In a wide and singular sense statistics refers to the
statistical methods. Therefore, these have been grouped under two heads
– „Statistics as a data” and “Statistics as a methods”.
Statistics as a Data
Some definitions of statistics as a data are
a) Statistics are numerical statement of facts in any department of
enquiring placed in relation to each other.

- Powley
b) By statistics we mean quantities data affected to a marked extent by
multiple of causes.

- Yule and Kendall

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Engineering Statistics Fundamentals Environmental Eng. Dep.

c) By statistics we mean aggregates of facts affected to a marked extent

by multiplicity of causes, numerically expressed, enumerated or estimated
according to reasonable standard of accuracy, collected in a systematic
manner for pre-determined purpose and placed in relation to each other.
- H. Secrist
This definition is more comprehensive and exhaustive. It shows light
on characteristics of statistics and covers different aspects.
Some characteristics the statistics should possess by H. Secrist can be
listed as follows.
Statistics are aggregate of facts

Statistics are affected to a marked extent by multiplicity of causes.

Statistics are numerically expressed

Statistics should be enumerated / estimated

Statistics should be collected with reasonable standard of accuracy

Statistics should be placed is relation to each other.

Statistics as a method

Definition
a) “Statistics may be called to science of counting”

- A.L. Bowley
b) “Statistics is the science of estimates and probabilities”.

- Boddington
c) Dr. Croxton and Cowden have given a clear and concise definition.

“Statistics may be defined as the collection, presentation, analysis and

interpretation of numerical data”.

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Engineering Statistics Fundamentals Environmental Eng. Dep.

According to Croxton and Cowden there are 4 stages.

a) Collection of Data

A structure of statistical investigation is based on a collection of data.

Where the collecting data are Observations and field or laboratory
Measurements.

b) Organisations of data
The collected data is a large mass of figures that needs to be
organized. The collected data must be edited to rectify for any omissions,
irrelevant answers, and wrong computations. The edited data must be
classified and tabulated to suit further analysis.

c) Presentation of data
The large data that are collected cannot be understand and analysis
easily and quickly. Therefore, collected data needs to be presented in
tabular or graphic form. This systematic order and graphical
presentation helps for further analysis.

d) Analysis of data

The analysis requires establishing the relationship between one or

more variables. Analysis of data includes condensation, abstracting,
summarization, conclusion etc. With the help of statistical tools and
techniques like measures of dispersion, central tendency, correlation,
variance analysis etc. analysis can be done.

e) Interpretation of data

The interpretation requires deep insight of the subject. Interpretation

involves drawing the valid conclusions on the bases of the analysis of
data. This work requires good experience and skill. This process is very
important as conclusions of results are done based on interpretation.
We can define statistics as per Seligman as follows.
“Statistics is a science which deals with the method and of collecting,
classifying, presenting, comparing and interpreting the numerical
data collected to throw light on enquiry”.
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Engineering Statistics Fundamentals Environmental Eng. Dep.

Two parts of statics

There are two parts of statics:
1. Descriptive static.
2. Inferential static.

Descriptive static:
It is the part of statics that deals with the collecting, organization, and
presentation of data in tables or graphs to determine a different
measurements like measurements of (central locations and variation or
dispersion ).

Inferential static:
It is the part that deals with the analysis of data includes
condensation, abstracting, summarization, conclusion etc. With the help
of statistical tools and techniques to make decisions or best decisions if
the available data are not enough therefor this part of statistics is calling
the decisions science which starts after Descriptive static and depends
largely on probability theory and complete it.
There are a lot of practicing of statistics in civil engineering field, like:
- Studying the traffic action to find the proper ways to control it.
- Studying the return period for 100 year for a flood discharge for a dam
to design the gates of dam.
- Or when designing rainfall net the data needed is the discharge of
rainfall for at least 10 years etc.

Basic terms of statistics

1. Population
Generally, it is a set of things or forms that having the same
characteristics that had a special important for a scientific study, while in
Engineering it's mean the total No. of information or data having the
same properties for example: concrete cubes from a factory for a
year it is a population. There are two types of population limited
which having a specific No. of data and unlimited which having
infinite No. of data.

2. Sample

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Engineering Statistics Fundamentals Environmental Eng. Dep.

is a part of the population and it's must be chosen that it will represent
the characteristics of the population.

3. Random Sample
It says that the sample is random only if each member of the
population have the same chance to be chosen.

4. Independent samples
It says two independent samples if each one of them is a random
sample, i.e, chosen randomly.

5. Statistical variable and Variant

Statistical variable referred to the characteristic or the property of the
data while the variant is the value of that variable.

6. Random variable
The value of the random variable is a number get it as a result from an
outcome. And these are two types :
Discrete Random Variable its having finite sample space and its called
too distinct or separate any numbering data is a Discrete variable, like the
No. of students.
Continuous Random Variable its having infinite sample space and it can
be any measuring data, like water level in a river or ratio the layer sand in
soil, etc..

7. Independent and Dependent Variables

It says that the variables are Independent if the result of each one are
not influenced by the other like when throwing two coins in the air. While
it says dependent variables when the result of each one is influenced like
the stress – strain relationship for a concrete column each value of stress
having a specific value of strain.