Chapter 1 Lesson 3

Chapter
1:Exploring Data
LESSON 3: BASIC TERMS IN STATISTICS
OVERVIEW OF LESSON
 As continuation of Lesson 2 (where we

contextualize data) in this lesson we
define basic terms in statistics as we
continue to explore data. These basic
terms include the universe, variable,
population and sample. In detail we will
discuss other concepts in relation to a
variable.
LEARNING OUTCOME(S):
 At the end of the lesson, the learner is

able to
 Define universe and differentiate it with
population; and
 Define and differentiate between qualitative
and quantitative variables, and between
discrete and continuous variables (that are
quantitative);
LESSON OUTLINE:
1. Recall previous lesson on ‘Contextualizing

Data’
2. Definition of Basic Terms in Statistics
(universe, variable, population and sample)
3. Broad of Classification of
Variables(qualitative and quantitative,
discrete and continuous)
A. Recall previous lesson on
‘Contextualizing Data’
1. Definition of Basic Terms
 The collection of respondents from whom one obtain the

data is called the universe of the study.
 In our illustration, the set of students of this Statistics and
Probability class is our universe.
 But we must precaution the students that a universe is
not necessarily composed of people. Since there are
studies where the observations were taken from plants or
animals or even from non-living things like buildings,
vehicles, farms, etc.
 So formally, we define universe as the

collection or set of units or entities from
whom we got the data. Thus, this set of
units answers the first Ws of data
contextualization.
A variable is a characteristic that is

observable or measurable in every unit of
the universe.
 From each student of the class, we got the

his/her age, number of siblings, weight, height,
age of mother, usual daily allowance in school,
usual daily food expenditure in school, usual
number of text messages sent in a day, most
preferred color, usual sleeping time and
happiness index for the day. Since these
characteristics are observable in each and
every student of the class, then these are
referred to as variables.
 The set of all possible values of a variable

is referred to as a population. Thus for
each variable we observed, we have a
population of values. The number of
population in a study will be equal to the
number of variables observed. In the data
collection activity we had, there are 12
populations corresponding to 12 variables.
A subgroup of a universe or of a
population is a sample. There are several
ways to take a sample from a universe or
a population and the way we draw the
sample dictates the kind of analysis we do
with our data.
2. Broad Classification of Variables
 Variables can be broadly classified as either quantitative
or qualitative, with the latter further classified into
discrete and continuous types (see Figure 3.3 below).
 Qualitative variables express a categorical attribute,

such as sex (male or female), religion, marital status,
region of residence, highest educational
attainment. Qualitative variables do not strictly take
on numeric values (although we can have numeric
codes for them, e.g., for sex variable, 1 and 2 may
refer to male, and female, respectively).
 Qualitative variables are sometimes referred to as
categorical variables.
 Quantitative data may be further classified into:
a. Discrete data are those data that can be counted,
e.g., the number of days for cellphones to fail, the
ages of survey respondents measured to the nearest
year, and the number of patients in a hospital. These
data assume only (a finite or infinitely)countable
number of values.
b. Continuous data are those that can be measured,
e.g. the exact height of a survey respondent and the
exact volume of some liquid substance. The possible
values are uncountably infinite.
 Quantitative (otherwise called numerical) data,

whose sizes are meaningful, answer questions such
as “how much” or “how many”. Quantitative
variables have actual units of measure. Examples of
quantitative variables include the height, weight,
number of registered cars, household size, and total
household expenditures/income of survey
respondents.
 Special Note:
For quantitative data, arithmetical operations have
some physical interpretation. One can add 301 and 302 if
these have quantitative meanings, but if, these numbers
refer to room numbers, then adding these numbers does
not make any sense. Even though a variable may take
numerical values, it does not make the corresponding
variable quantitative! The issue is whether performing
arithmetical operations on these data would make any
sense. It would certainly not make sense to sum two zip
codes or multiply two room numbers.
KEY POINTS
• A universe is a collection of units from which the data were
gathered.
• A variable is a characteristic we observed or measured from every
element of the universe.
• A population is a set of all possible values of a variable.
• A sample is a subgroup of a universe or a population.
• In a study there is only one universe but could have several
populations.
• Variables could be classified as qualitative or quantitative, and the
latter could be further classified as discrete or continuous.
REFERENCES
 Albert, J. R. G. (2008). Basic Statistics for the Tertiary Level (ed.
Roberto Padua, WelfredoPatungan, Nelia Marquez), published by
Rex Bookstore.
 Handbook of Statistics 1 (1st and 2nd Edition), Authored by the
Faculty of the Institute of
 Statistics, UP Los Baños, College Laguna 4031
 Takahashi, S. (2009). The Manga Guide to Statistics. Trend-Pro Co.
Ltd.
 Workbooks in Statistics 1 (From 1st to 13th Edition), Authored by the
Faculty of the Institute of Statistics, UP Los Baños, College Laguna
4031
Thank You!

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Chapter 1 Lesson 3

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Chapter

 As continuation of Lesson 2 (where we

 At the end of the lesson, the learner is

1. Recall previous lesson on ‘Contextualizing

 The collection of respondents from whom one obtain the

 So formally, we define universe as the

A variable is a characteristic that is

 From each student of the class, we got the

 The set of all possible values of a variable

 Qualitative variables express a categorical attribute,

 Quantitative (otherwise called numerical) data,

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