BASIC STATISTICS- LESSON ONE

Lesson 1 . Introduction
1. Definition of Statistics
2. Importance of Statistics
3. Descriptive, Correlational and Inferential Statistics
4. Population and Sample
5. Statistical Symbols
6. Variables
7. Discrete and Continuous
8. Dependent and Independent
9. Summation Notation

Introduction:

Statistical techniques are employed in almost every phase of life. Surveys are designed to

collect data. Consumers are sampled to provide information for predicting product preferences.

Research physicians conduct experiments to determine the effect of various drugs and controlled

environmental conditions on humans in order to infer the appropriate treatment for various illnesses.

Engineers sample a product quality characteristic and various controllable process variables to

identify key variables related to product quality. Newly manufactured electronic devices are sampled

before shipping to decide whether to ship or hold individual lots. Economists observe various indices

of economic health over a period of time and use the information to forecast the condition of the

economy in the future.

Statistical techniques play an important role in achieving the objective of each of these

practical situations. The development of the theory underlying these techniques is the focus of this

course/text.

A prerequisite to a discussion of the theory of statistics is a definition of statistics and a

statement of its objectives.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Apply the basic concepts that provide the necessary foundations for more specialized expertise

in the area of data analysis

2. To demonstrated in research the necessary components of one's general understanding of

the "quantitative and quantitative nature" of reality

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 BASIC STATISTICS- LESSON ONE

Discussion:

We begin our discussion with a question “ how statistics is used”. Well we define first some

terminologies that will help us understand the concept. We begin by defining statistics itself.

 What is statistics?

 Statistics –

-A branch of mathematics taking and transforming numbers into useful

information for decision makers

-Methods for processing & analysing numbers

-Methods for helping reduce the uncertainty inherent in decision

making

-it is the science that deals with the collection, organization,

presentation, analysis and interpretation of data to come up with

meaningful information.

-It refers to numerical observations of almost any kind. Statistical data

took the forms of figures on important information’s on tax return,

populations, birth, deaths, trade and others that are considered

important information to the state.

Statistics plays an important role in gathering information that are observable or

measurable on each and every individual or entity of the study. The information that will

be gathered is based on the characteristics with which units of measurement of interest

are being described or with which inferences are made.

Two Major Areas of Statistics

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 BASIC STATISTICS- LESSON ONE

The two major areas of statistics are:

Descriptive Statistics comprises those methods concerned with collecting

and describing a set of data as to yield meaningful information.

Inferential Statistics comprises those methods concerned with analysis of

subset of data leading to predictions or inferences about the entire set of data.

Example: (Distinction between Descriptive and Inferential Statistics)

Academic records of the graduating classes during the past 5 years in a certain

university show that 72% of the entering freshman eventually graduated. The numerical value , 72%

is a descriptive statistics. If you are a member of the present freshman class and conclude from this

study that your chances of graduating are better than 70%, you have made a statistical inference that

is subject to uncertainty.

In gathering information we will determine our area of interest or the subject of interest that

is to determine the data to be gathered and the number of observations is needed. In gathering

information we should to take into consideration the time frame so as to the research will be

beneficial. So we take into consideration whether we take the whole set or just a subset of our

subject of interest.

Population- consists of the total collection of observations. It is a groups or aggregates of

people, animals, objects, materials, happenings or things of any form.

- consist of the totality of observations with which we are concerned.

Sample- is a subject of measurement taken from the population. It is a few members of the

population to represent their characteristics.

- a subset of the population

Example: A candidate for political office hires a polling firms to asses his chances in the

upcoming election. The population consists of all voters in the candidate’s district.

The sample consists of all voters in the candidate’s district interviewed by the polling

firm.

Parameter- any numerical value describing a characteristic of a population.

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 BASIC STATISTICS- LESSON ONE

- use to represent a certain population

Statistic - any numerical value describing a characteristic of a sample.

- use to give information about unknown values in the corresponding

population

It is also very important in research to know our variable of our study. The variable

may affect or it may not affect the study of interest.

So what is a viable? In mathematics a variable is any one that varies.

Variable- refers to the characteristics or property whereby members of the group or set vary

from another.

- A characteristic or information of interest that is observable or measurable from

every individual or object under consideration.

Example: Gender, Age, Occupation, religion

Types of Variables

Variables are either Qualitative or Categorical and Quantitative or Numerical varia

A Qualitative or Categorical variable is a variable is a variable that Measures a

quality or characteristics while Quantitative or Numerical variable Measures a numerical

quantity or amount, it Answers the question “how much” or “how many”.

Quantitative variable is either Discrete or Continuous. Discrete variable assumes only a

finite, specific values or countable number of values, while Continuous variable assumes infinitely

many values corresponding to the points on a line interval.

Examples:
 Marital Status Examples:
cpbinarao Political
Eye Color
Party  Number of Children Examples:
 Defects per hour  Weight
(Defined categories ) (Counted items)  Voltage
(Measured
characteristics )
 BASIC STATISTICS- LESSON ONE

Variable is also classified as Dependent or independent Variable. A Dependent variable is

sometimes called criterion variables while the Independent variable is sometimes called predictor

variables or a variable that can be controlled or manipulated.

Example: 1) Suppose the investigator is interested in the relationships between two

variables: the effect of information about the gender of a job applicant on hiring decisions made by

personnel managers. The hiring decision is the dependent variable because it is thought to depend

on the information about the gender of the applicant, while the gender of the applicant is independent

because it is assumed to influence the dependent variable and does not “depend” on the other

variable.

2) “Study on the effect of Psychological stress on blood pressure” the Independent

variable is the amount Psychological stress an individual feeling and the dependent variable is the

individuals blood pressure.

Constant refers to the property whereby the members of the group do not differ from one

another.

Level of Measurement

In order to determine what statistical tool used in the analysis of gathered data, it is important

to know the different type of measuring scale use in the data gathering or collection. A measuring

scale can have one or more of the following mathematical attributes: magnitude, an equal interval

between adjacent units, and an absolute zero point.

There are four types of scales namely: the nominal scale, the interval scale, the ordinal

scale and the ratio scale.

Nominal Scale used with variables that are qualitative in nature. The data collected are

simply labels, categories or nameless without any implicit or explicit ordering of the categories or

explicit ordering of the labels. The observations or subjects belong to the same category. It is the
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 BASIC STATISTICS- LESSON ONE

lowest level of measurement. Nominal scale does not possess any of the attributes of magnitude,

equal interval or absolute zero point

Example:

1. Sex/ Gender

2. The complexion of students

3. Hair Color of students

Ordinal scale has a relative low level of property of magnitude, but it does not have the

property of equal intervals between the adjacent units. This is concerned with the ranking or order

of the objects measured. The level of measurement is higher than nominal.

Example

1. Winners of a contest

2. Faculty Rank

3. Military Rank

Interval scale has its property of magnitude and equal interval between two adjacent units,

but it does have an absolute zero point. The data collected can be ordered or rank. The unit

measurement is constant. The level of measurement is higher than the ordinal.

Example

1. Temperature in Celsius scale

2. IQ of zero does not mean total absence of knowledge.

Ratio scale is the highest level of measurement scale. It has all the properties of an interval

scale, that is, it has magnitude and equal intervals plus the absolute zero point. There is a constant

size interval between each successive unit on the measurement scale. Furthermore, there is a physical

significance to this zero.

Examples

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 BASIC STATISTICS- LESSON ONE

1. The reaction time to a particular drug

2. The number of visits to a Doctor,

3. The weight loss of on diet individual,

4. The average score of CAT score of CAS students

Self-Assessment Question (activity one)

Note:
Answer should be in PDF File.
1. Give at least 10 example of type of variable (aside from the example/mentioned on the
notes). a) Identify whether qualitative or quantitative indicate b) indicate the level of
measurement.

Type of variable Level of

# Variable
Qualitative Quantitative Measurement
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

2. Identify the level of measurement of the following:

a) Your age is ________.
b) Your Course is _______.
c) Your year level is ______.
d) Your parent Educational Attainment _______.
e) The income of your parent _________.
f) Your grade point average _________.
g) Your number of sibling ___________.
h) Your pulse rate before and after walking 3 km_________.
i) The score in basketball game__________.
j) The height of water in a dam __________.

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