Statistics - The branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, and

interpretation of numerical data.Statistics is especially useful in drawing general conclusions

about a set of data from a sample of the data.

1. Statistics
A statistic is a value that has been produced from a data collection, such as a summary
measure, an estimate or projection. Statistical information is data that has been organised to
serve a useful purpose.
Statistics is also a term that refers to the practice of collecting, analysing, interpreting
and communicating data. It is the science of interacting with data.

Statistics represent a common method of presenting information helping us to

understand what the data are telling us.

Descriptive (or summary) statistics summarise the raw data and allow data users to
interpret a dataset more easily.
Descriptive statistics can describe the shape, centre and spread of a dataset..

Inferential statistics are used to infer conclusions about a population from a sample of
that population. Inferential statistics are the result of techniques that use the data collected
from a sample to make generalisations about the whole population from which the sample was
taken.
Inferential statistics include estimation, and hypothesis testing.

The theory, methods, and practice of forming judgments about the parameters of a
population, usually on the basis of random sampling Also called Statistical Inference

2. Population

In statistics, population refers to the total set of observations that can be made.

A population is any complete group with at least one characteristic in common.

Populations are not just people. Populations may consist of, but are not limited to, people,
animals, businesses, buildings, motor vehicles, farms, objects or events.

3. Sample

A sample is a subset of units in a population, selected to represent all units in a

population of interest. It is a partial enumeration because it is a count from part of the
population.
 Information from the sampled units is used to estimate the characteristics for the entire
population of interest.

In statistics, a sample refers to a set of observations drawn from a population.

Limited number of observations selected from a population on a systematic or random

basis, which (upon mathematical manipulation) yield generalizations about the population

4. Parameters

Parameters in statistics is an important component of any statistical analysis. In simple

words, a parameter is any numerical quantity that characterizes a given population or some
aspect of it. This means the parameter tells us something about the whole population.

5. statistic

A statistic is a characteristic of a sample. Generally, a statistic is used to estimate the

value of a population parameter.

a number that represents a piece of information

a single term or datum in a collection of statistics

a quantity (such as the mean of a sample) that is computed from a sample; specifically :
estimated

a random variable that takes on the possible values of a statistic

6. Variable

A variable is any characteristics, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted.

A variable may also be called a data item. Age, sex, business income and expenses, country of
birth, capital expenditure, class grades, eye colour and vehicle type are examples of variables. It
is called a variable because the value may vary between data units in a population, and may
change in value over time.

Quantitative data are measures of values or counts and are expressed as numbers.

Quantitative data are data about numeric variables (e.g. how many; how much; or how often).

Qualitative data are measures of 'types' and may be represented by a name, symbol, or a
number code.

Qualitative data are data about categorical variables (e.g. what type).

7. Scale - used to categorize and/or quantify variables.

 Nominal: Categorical data and numbers that are simply used as identifiers or names represent a
nominal scale of measurement
Nominal: nominal is from the Latin nomalis, which means pertaining to names. Its another
name for a category.

Examples:

Gender: Male, Female, Other.

Hair Color: Brown, Black, Blonde, Red, Other.
Type of living accommodation: House, Apartment, Trailer, Other.
Genotype: Bb, bb, BB, bB.
Religious preference: Buddhist, Mormon, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Other.

An ordinal scale of measurement represents an ordered series of relationships or rank order.

Ordinal: means in order. Includes First, second and ninety ninth.

Examples:

High school class ranking: 1st, 9th, 87th

Socioeconomic status: poor, middle class, rich.
The Likert Scale: strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree.
Level of Agreement: yes, maybe, no.
Time of Day: dawn, morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night.
Political Orientation: left, center, right.

Interval: A scale that represents quantity and has equal units but for which zero represents
simply an additional point of measurement is an interval scale.
Interval: has values of equal intervals that mean something.

Examples:

Celsius Temperature.
Fahrenheit Temperature.
IQ (intelligence scale).
SAT scores.
Time on a clock with hands.

Ratio: The ratio scale of measurement is similar to the interval scale in that it also represents
quantity and has equality of units. However, this scale also has an absolute zero (no numbers
exist below zero).

Examples:

Age.*
Weight.
 Height.
Sales Figures.
Ruler measurements.
Income earned in a week.
Years of education.
Number of children.

8. Data - is the raw information from which statistics are created.

Characteristics or information, usually numerical, that are collected through observation.

Discrete Data, which is data that cannot be divided; it is distinct and can only occur in certain
values.
Continuous Data is data that can be divided infinitely; it does not have any value distinction.

9. Sampling Techniques- A sampling technique is the name or other identification of the specific
process by which the entities of the sample have been selected.

Random Sampling Technique - a method of selecting a sample (random sample) from a statistical
population in such a way that every possible sample that could be selected has a predetermined
probability of being selected.

a. Fishbowl or Lottery Method

In this method of creating a simple random sample is exactly what it sounds like. A researcher
randomly picks numbers, with each number corresponding to a subject or item, in order to create the
sample. To create a sample this way, the researcher must ensure that the numbers are well mixed
before selecting the sample population.

b. Systematic

Is a statistical method involving the selection of elements from an ordered sampling frame.

c. Clustered

In cluster sampling, instead of selecting all the subjects from the entire population right off, the
researcher takes several steps in gathering his sample population.

First, the researcher selects groups or clusters, and then from each cluster, the researcher
selects the individual subjects by either simple random or systematic random sampling. The researcher
can even opt to include the entire cluster and not just a subset from it.

Convinience Sampling Technique

 Convenience sampling (also known as availability sampling) is a specific type of non-probability
sampling method that relies on data collection from population members who are conveniently
available to participate in study. Facebook polls or questions can be mentioned as a popular example for
convenience sampling.

Convenience sampling is a type of sampling where the first available primary data source will be
used for the research without additional requirements. In other words, this sampling method involves
getting participants wherever you can find them and typically wherever is convenient.