Basic Statistics in

Psychology

Instructor : Nabeela Raza

 Statistics
• The word statistics has been derived from Latin word ‘status’
or Italian ‘Statista’ meaning statesman.
• Professor Gott Fried Achenwall used it in the 18th century.
During early period, these words were used for political state of
the region. The word ‘Statista’ was used to keep the records of
census or data related to wealth of a state.
• Gradually, its meaning and usage extended and there onwards
its nature also changed.
• The word statistics is used to convey different meanings in
singular and plural sense. Therefore it can be defined in two
different ways.
• Statistics in Singular Sense
• In singular sense, ‘Statistics’ refers to what is called statistical
methods. It deals with the collection of data, their classification,
analysis and interpretations of statistical data. Therefore, it is
described as a branch of science which deals with classification,
tabulation and analysis of numerical facts and make decision as
well.
• Statistics in Plural Sense ‘
• Statistics’ used in plural sense means that quantitative information
is available called ‘data’. For example, information on population
or demographic features, enrolment of students in Psychology
programmes of IGNOU, and the like. According to Websters
“Statistics are the classified facts representing the conditions of
the people in a State specifically those facts which can be stated
in number or in tables of number or classified arrangement”.
•
Features of statistics
i) Statistics are aggregate of facts: Single or unrelated items are not
considered as statistics.
• ii) Statistics are affected by multiplicity of causes: In statistics the collected
information are greatly influenced by a number of factors and forces working
together.
• iii) Statistics are numerical facts: Only numerical data constitute statistics.
• iv) Statistics are enumerated or estimated with a reasonable standard of
accuracy: While enumerating or estimating data, a reasonable degree of
accuracy must be achieved.
• v) Statistics are collected in a systematic manner: Data should be collected
by proper planning by utilising tool/s developed by trained personnel.
• vi) Statistics are collected for a predetermined purpose : It is necessary to
define the objective of enquiry, before collecting the statistics. The objective of
enquiry must be specific and well defined.
• vii) Statistics should be comparable: Only comparable data will have some
meaning. For statistical analysis, the data should be comparable with respect
to time, place group, etc.
• Thus, it may be stated that “ All statistics are numerical statements of facts but
all numerical statements of facts are not necessarily statistics ”
 Definition of Statistics
• In this unit emphasis is on the term statistics as a branch of science. It deals with
classification, tabulation and analysis of numerical facts.
• Different statistician defined this aspect of statistics in different ways. For
example.
• A. L. Bowley gave several definitions of Statistics:
• i) “Statistics may be called the science of counting” . This definition emphasises
enumeration aspect only.
• ii) In another definition he describes it as “ Statistics may rightly be called the
science of average”.
• iii) At another place Statistics is defined as, “Statistics is the science of
measurement of social organism regarded as a whole in all its manifestations”.
• All three definitions given by Bowely seem to be inadequate because these do
not include all aspects of statistics.
• According to Selligman
• “Statistics is the science which deals with the methods of collecting, classifying,
presenting , comparing and interpreting numerical data collected to throw some
light on any sphere of enquiry”.
 SCOPE AND USE OF STATISTICS
• Statistical applications have a wide scope. Some of the major ones are given below:
1. Policy planning: To finalise a policy, it requires some data from previous or
expected environment that the policy can be effectively utilised with maximum
favourable results. For example, in an organisation the previous sales data are
analysed to develop future strategies in the field to obtain maximum benefit in terms
of product sale.
2. Management: Statistics is very useful tool in an organisation to view various aspects
of work and well being of the employees as well as keeping an eye on the progress
trend of the organisation.
3. Behavioural and Social Sciences: In social sciences where both types (quantitative
and qualitative) of information are used, statistics helps the researchers to alter the
information in a comprehensive way to explain and predict the patterns of behaviour/
trend. Where the characteristics of the population being studied are normally
distributed, the best and statistically important decision about variables being
investigated is possible by using parametric statistics or nonparametric statistics to
explain the pattern of activities.
• Education: If education is intended to be well dispersed and effective in
the interest of the population, the characteristics of students, instructor’s
contents and infrastructure are very important to understand and again
statistics enable these characteristics being analysed in context of needs of
the nation. Once the parameters of all components are analysed, areas
needing more emphasis become obvious. minimising the error factor.
• Commerce and Accounts: Where money matters are involved, it is
essential to take extra care to manage the funds properly enabling efforts
in various sectors. The cost and benefit analysis helps to decide putting
money and regulating it for maximum benefit at minimum cost.
• Industries: Statistics is a basic tool to handle daily matters not only in big
organisations but also in small industries. It is required, at each level, to
keep data with care and look at them in different perspectives to mitigate
the expenditure and enable each employee to have his/ her share in the
benefit. Psychologists/ personnel officers dealing with selection and
training in industries also use statistical tools to differentiate among
employees.
• Pure sciences and Mathematics: Statistical tools are also instrumental to have
precise measures in pure sciences and to see differences on different occasions in
various conditions. Statistics itself is a branch of mathematics which helps them
understand differences among properties of various applications in mathematics.
• Problem solving: Knowing the useful difference between two or more variables
enable the individual to find out the best applicable solution to a problem
situation and it is possible because of statistics. During problem solving statistics
helps the person analyse his/ her pattern of response and the correct solution
thereby
• Theoretical researches: Theories evolve on the basis of facts obtained from the
field. Statistical analyses establish the significance of those facts for a particular
paradigm or phenomena. Researchers are engaged in using the statistical
measures to decide on the facts and data whether a particular theory can be
maintained or challenged. The significance between the facts and factors help
them to explore the connectivity among them.
 TYPES OF STATISTICS
• There are various types of statistics.
• Following are the two major ways of
classifying statistics:
• (i) on the basis of function and
• (ii) on the basis of distribution.
 On the Basis of Functions
• As statistics has some particular procedures to deal with its
subject matter or data, three types of statistics have been
described.
• A) Descriptive statistics:
• The branch which deals with descriptions of obtained data
is known as descriptive statistics. On the basis of these
descriptions a particular group of population is defined for
corresponding characteristics. The descriptive statistics
include classification, tabulation measures of central
tendency and variability. These measures enable the
researchers to know about the tendency of data or the
scores, which further enhance the ease in description of the
phenomena.
• B) Correlational statistics:
• The obtained data are disclosed for their inter correlations in
this type of statistics. It includes various types of techniques to
compute the correlations among data. Correlational statistics
also provide description about sample or population for their
further analyses to explore the significance of their differences.
• C) Inferential statistics:
• Inferential statistics deals with the drawing of conclusions about
large group of individuals (population) on the basis of
observations of few participants from them or about the events
which are yet to occur on the basis of past events. It provide
tools to compute the probabilities of future behavior of the
subjects.