INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS AND

DATA COLLECTION
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF STATISTICS

 The subject of Statistics is as old as the Human society. It’s

origin can be traced to the old days when it was regarded as the
“Science of State-craft” and was the by product of the
administrative activity of the state.

 The word Statistics seems to have been derived from the Latin
word “Status” or Italian word “Statista” or the German word
“Statistik” each of Which means a “Political Status”
 In ancient times ,the Government used to collect the information
regarding the population and Property or wealth of the country
and later providing it a basis for introducing the new taxes and
levies.

 In India an efficient system of collecting official and

administrative Statistics existed even more than 2,000 years ago.

 For instance, During the reign of Chandra Gupta Maurya (324-

300 B.C.) and In Akbar’s reign(1556-1605 A.D) there are
sufficient evidences of administrative and Agriculture Statistics.

 Also in Kautilya’s Arthashastra its known that even before 300

B.C. a very good system of Collecting “Vital statistics” was
existed.
 The theoretical development of the modern Statistics came
during the mid 17th century with the Introduction of “Theory of
probability” and “Theory of games and Chance”.

 The field Statistics is developed time to time and its

Applications are widened in almost all the spheres of Human
activity.
 Ronald A Fisher

 Ronald A Fisher (1890-1962) who applied Statistics to a variety

of diversified fields such as Genetics, Biometry, Psychology,
Education and Agriculture etc,.
 He’s Known as a “Father of Statistics”.
 Prasanta Chandra
Mahalanobies

P.C Mahalanobies is known as a Pioneer in Statistical field in India, he’s

considered as a father of “Modern statistics in India”.

The national Statistics day is being observed every year on 29th June on the
occasion of birth anniversary of P. C. Mahalanobies with the objective of
creating Public awareness among people about the importance of statistics in
daily life and in the process of planning and development.
DEFINITION OF STATISTICS

It is very difficult to give such a

definition of Statistics which may
cover all its broad characteristics.
Bowley’s definitions:

1. “Statistics is the science of counting.”

2. “Statistics may rightly be called the
science of average.”

“Statistics are numerical statements of

facts in any department of enquiry placed
in relation to each other”
“Statistics
are a collection of note-worthy
facts concerning state both historical and
descriptive”
- Achenwall

“Statistics is the science of estimates and

probabilities.”
- Boddington
The above given definitions are not complete
to cover all the aspects of statistics. The
definitions given by Croxton & Cowden
(singular sense) and Horace Secrist (plural
sense) are more exhaustive definitions.
STATISTICS IN TWO SENSE
 Statistics has been defined differently by different authors from
time to time.
There are two main reasons for variety of definition

1.In modern times the field of utility of Statistics has widened considerably.

2. Statistics has been defined in 2 ways

2.1 Statistics as a “STATISTICAL DATA” (Plural Sense)

-> Numerical Statements of Facts

2.2 Statistics as a “STATISTICAL METHOD”(Singular Sense)

->the principles and techniques used in collecting and analyzing such data.
DEFINITION OF STATISTICS

 By Prof.Horace Secrist [In Plural sense]

“Statistics may be defined as aggregate of facts , affected to

a marked extent by multiplicity of causes, numerically
expressed, enumerated or estimated according to a
reasonable standard of accuracy, collected in a systematic
manner, for a predetermined purpose and placed in
relation to each other”.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF STATISTICS
1. Data should be aggregate of facts and not a
single fact.
2. Fact should be numerically expressed.
3. Facts or data are affected by many factors.
4. Data are enumerated or estimated.
5. The accuracy regarding the data should be
observed to that extent which is reasonably
possible.
6. All statistics are numerical statements of facts,
but all numerical statements are not statistics.
DEFINITION OF STATISTICS

 By Croxton and Cowden

[ In Singular Sense]

“Statistics may be defined as the Science of

Collection, Presentation ,analysis and
Interpretation of numerical data”
Thus important features of statistical methods are
as follows:
1. 1.Collection of Data: Under this stage, the
relevant data are collected from various
sources – primary or secondary. Collection of
data is the main and the first step in a
statistical investigation. It depends upon the
objectives of the study. The data are the bases
of the analysis, and should fulfill the basic
objectives of the proposed study.
2.Organisation and presentation of data: After
collection, the data are organized in a proper
form which involves editing, classification and
tabulation.

Editing is necessary to remove inconsistencies/

unwanted data.
Classification means arrangement of data
according to some common characteristics.
Tabulation includes presentation of data in
columns and rows.
3.Presentation of data : After classification, the data
are presented in some suitable manner- either by
diagrams or graphs.

4. Analysis of data: It includes measures of central

tendency, measures of dispersion, correlation and
regression, tests of comparison etc.. Analysis
provides basis for interpretation.

5. Interpretation: Interpretation of data is the process

of drawing inferences and conclusions from the
analyzed data. It involves statistical thinking, skill,
experience and common sense.
Functions of Statistics
The important functions of statistics are

1. To present facts in precise / definite form

and simplification of large and complex data
into understandable form.

The data is often large and complex. The

purpose of Statistical methods is to simplify
these complex data and to make them more
understandable.
2. To facilitate comparison:
The main function of statistics is
comparison. It is only by comparison the
significance of certain figures
like averages, percentages, or coefficients,
are inferred.
3. To enrich our knowledge & widens our
experience :

Knowledge becomes precise and easy to

understand with the help of statistical
techniques. Because, statistics helps to
present the data in readily comprehensive
form.
4. To study relationship between different
facts:
Another important function of statistics is
investigating the relationship between two
or more phenomenon. The relationship
existing between Height and weight, Age
and hearing loss, Age and Language score
can be measured with the help of statistical
methods like correlation, regression etc.
5. Helpful in formulation and testing of hypothesis:
Statistical tests helps in validating the formulated
hypothesis and developing a theory on the basis of
results.

6. Helpful in forecasting and policy making:

Statistical methods are not only helpful in
estimating the present but they are also helpful in
forecasting the future. Hence they are helpful in the
formulation of policies.
Two areas of Statistics

Descriptive Statistics

Inferential Statistics
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
 The Branch of Statistics devoted to the Summarization
and Description of data.

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
 The Branch of Statistics concerned with using sample
data to make an inference about a Population of data.
LIMITATION OF STATISTICS

1. Statistics is not suited to the study of qualitative phenomenon.

Ex: Qualitative phenomena like Honesty, Poverty, culture etc, which
can not be expresses numerically and not capable of direct
statistical analysis.
2.Statistics does not study Individual.
Statistics deals with an aggregate of facts and does not give any
specific recognition to the individual item in the series.
3.Statistical results are true on an average.
On the basis of statistical analysis we can talk only in terms of
Probability and chance not in terms of certainty.
4.Statistics is liable to be Misused .
The use of Statistical tools and Methods by inexperienced and
untrained person might lead to very fallacious conclusions.