Lesson 1: Introduction To Statistics

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
What is STATISTICS?
Definition:
Statistics is the science of
collecting, organizing, summarizing,
and analyzing information to draw
conclusions or answer questions.
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Department of Mathematics and Statistics
What information is referred to
in the definition?
The information referred to the
definition is the data.
According to the Merriam Webster
d i c t i o n a r y, d a t a a r e “ f a c t u a l
information used as a basis for
reasoning, discussion, or
calculation”.
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Understand the Process of
Statistics
1. Identify the research objective
A researcher must determine the
question(s) he or she wants answered.
The question(s) must be detailed so that it
identifies a group that is to be studied and
the questions that are to be answered. The
group to be studied is called the
population.
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Statistics
1. Identify the research objective
A researcher must determine the
question(s) he or she wants answered.
The question(s) must be detailed so that it
identifies a group that is to be studied and
the questions that are to be answered. The
group to be studied is called the
population.
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Statistics
2. Collect the information needed to
answer the questions
Everybody collects and uses information, much of it
in numerical or statistical forms in day-to-day life.
Gaining access to an entire population is often
difficult and expensive. In conducting research, we
typically look at a subset of the population called a
sample.
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Definition:
Sample is the subset of the

universe or the population.

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Exercises:
A research objective is presented. For each
research objective, identify the population
and sample in the study.
1. The Philippine Mental Health Associations

contacts 1,028 teenagers who are 13 to 17 years
of age and live in Antipolo City and asked
whether or not they had been prescribed
medications for any mental disorders, such as
depression or anxiety.
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ANSWER:
Population: Teenagers 13 to 17 years of
age who live in Antipolo City
Sample: 1,028 teenagers 13 to 17 years

of age who live in Antipolo City

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Exercises:
2. A farmer wanted to learn about the

weight of his soybean crop. He randomly
sampled 100 plants and weighted the
soybeans on each plant.

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ANSWER:
Population: Entire soybean crop
Sample: 100 plants selected

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Exercises:
1. The Philippine Mental Health Associations

contacts 1,028 teenagers who are 13 to 17 years
of age and live in Antipolo City and asked
whether or not they had been prescribed
medications for any mental disorders, such as
depression or anxiety.
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Statistics
4. Draw conclusion from the information.
In this step the information collected from the
sample is generalized to the population. This
process is referred to as Inferential statistics.
Inferential statistics uses methods that takes
results obtained from a sample, extends them
to the population, and measures the reliability
of the result.
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Inferential Statistics

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Reminders:
If the entire population is studied, then
inferential statistics is not necessary,
because descriptive statistics will
provide all the information that we
need regarding the population.

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ANSWER:
Population: Entire soybean crop
Sample: 100 plants selected

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Exercises:
For the following statements, decide whether it
belongs to the field of descriptive statistics or
inferential statistics.
2. A car manufacturer wishes to estimate the
average lifetime of batteries by testing a sample
of 50 batteries.
Answer:

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Exercises:
3. Janine wants to determine the variability of

her six exam scores in Algebra.
Answer:
Descriptive Statistics

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Exercises:
4. A shipping company wishes to estimate the

number of passengers traveling via their ships
next year using their data on the number of
passengers in the past three years.
Answer:
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Exercises:
5. A politician wants to determine the total

number of votes his rival obtained in the past
election based on his copies of the tally sheet of
electoral returns.
Answer:
Descriptive Statistics
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Distinction between Qualitative
and Quantitative Variables
Definition:
Variables are the characteristics
that differentiate every individual
within the population/sample.

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Classification of Variables
Variables can be classified into two groups:
1.Qualitative variables is variable that yields
categorical responses. It is a word or a code
that represents a class or category.
2.Quantitative variables takes on numerical

values representing an amount or quantity.

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Exercises:
Determine whether the following
variables are qualitative or quantitative.
1. Gender Ans: Qualitative
2. Temperature Ans: Quantitative
3. Number of Children Ans: Quantitative
4. Hair Color Ans: Qualitative
5. Zip Code Ans: Qualitative
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Distinguish between Discrete
and Continuous Variables
Quantitative variables may be further
classified into:
Discrete variable is a quantitative
variable that either a finite number of
possible values or a countable number of
possible values. The terms countable
means that the values result from
counting, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on.
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classify into:
A continuous variable is a quantitative

variable that has an infinite number of
possible values that are not countable.

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Exercises:
Determine whether the following quantitative
variables are discrete or continuous.
1. The number of heads obtained after flipping a

coin five times.
Answer: Discrete
2. The number of cars that arrive at a
McDonald’s drive-through between 12:00 P.M
and 1:00 P.M.
Answer: Discrete
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Exercises:
Determine whether the following quantitative
variables are discrete or continuous.
3. The distance of a 2005 Toyota Prius can
travel in city conditions with a full tank of gas.
Answer: Continuous
4. Number of words correctly spelled.
Answer: Discrete
5. Time of a runner to finish one lap.
Answer: Continuous
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Levels of Measurement
Ratio
Interval
Ordinal
Nominal
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Nominal Level
Identify, name, classify, or categorize
objects or events.
Example:
Method of payment (cash, check, debit card,
credit card), Type of school (public vs. private),
Eye Color (Blue, Green, Brown)
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Ordinal Level
Like nominal scales, identify, name, classify, or
categorize, objects or events but have an
additional property of a logical or natural order
to the categories or values.
Example:
Food Preferences, Rank of a Military officer,
Social Economic Class (First, Middle, Lower)
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Interval Level
Identify, have ordered values, and have the
additional property of equal distances or
intervals between scale.
Example:
Temperature on Fahrenheit/Celsius Thermometer,
Trait anxiety (e.g., high anxious vs. low anxious),
IQ (e.g., high IQ vs. average IQ vs. low IQ)
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Ratio Level
Identify, order, represent equal distances
between scores values, and have an
absolute zero point.
Example:
Height, Weight, Number of words
correctly spelled
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Exercises:
Categorize each of the following as nominal,
ordinal, interval or ratio measurement.
1. Ranking of college athletic teams Ans. Ordinal
2. Employee number Ans. Nominal
3. Number of vehicles registered Ans. Ratio
4. Brands of soft drinks Ans. Nominal
5. Number of car passers along C5 on a given
day Ans. Ratio
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Data Collection
Definition:
Data collection is the process of
gathering and measuring information on
variables of interest, in an established
systematic fashion that enables one to
answer stated research questions, test
hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.
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Consequences from Improperly
Collected Data
✦ Inability to answer research questions

accurately
✦ Inability to repeat and validate the study
✦ Distorted findings resulting in wasted
resources

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Consequences from Improperly
Collected Data
✦ Misleading other researchers to pursue
fruitless avenues of investigation
✦ Compromising decisions for public
policy
✦ Causing harm to human participants
and animal subjects
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classified into:
Discrete variable is a quantitative
variable that either a finite number of
possible values or a countable number of
possible values. The terms countable
means that the values result from
counting, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on.
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Sources of
Data
Primary Secondary
Data Data
Information that has

Include information already been
collected and collected, processed
processed directly by and reported out by
the researcher another
researcher/entity
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Primary Data
The primary data can be collected by the
following five methods.
1. Direct personal interviews. The
researcher has direct contact with the
interviewee. The researcher gathers
information by asking questions to the
interviewee.
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Primary Data
2. Indirect/Questionnaire Method. This
methods of data collection involve
sourcing and accessing existing data that
were originally collected for the purpose
of the study.
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Key Design Principles of a
Good Questionnaire
1. Keep the questionnaire as short as possible.
2. Decide on the type of questionnaire (Open
Ended or Closed Ended).
3. Write the questions properly.
4. Avoid questions that prompt or motivate the
respondent to say what you would like to hear.
5. Order the questions appropriately
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Key Design Principles of a
Good Questionnaire
5. Write an introductory letter or an
introduction.
6. Write special instructions for
interviewers or respondents.
7. Translate the questions if necessary .
8. Always test your questions before
taking the survey. (Pre-test)
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Reminders:
The most important step in writing a
questionnaire is to decide what you
want to find out.

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Example:
Two surveys were taken in late 1993/early 1994 about
Elvis Presley.
One survey asked:
“In the past few years, there have been a lot of rumors
and stories about whether Elvis Presley is really dead.
How do you feel about this? Do you think there is any
possibility that these rumors are true and that Elvis
Presley is still alive, or don’t you think so?”
Second survey asked:
“ A recent television show examined various theories
about Elvis Presley’s death. Do you think it is possible
that Elvis is alive or not?”
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8% of the respondents to the first question
said it is possible that Elvis is still alive.
16% of respondents to the second question

said it is possible that Elvis is still alive.

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Open-Ended vs. Closed-Ended
Questionnaire

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Primary Data
3. A focus group is a group interview of
approximately six to twelve people who
share similar characteristics or common
interests. A facilitator guides the group
based on a predetermined set of topics.
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Primary Data
4. Experiment is a method of collecting
data where there is direct human
intervention on the conditions that may
affect the values of the variable of
interest.
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Bear in mind that the experimental
method has several limitations that you
should be aware of.
✦ Ethical, moral, and legal Concerns

✦ Unrealistic Controlled Environments
✦ Inability to Control for All Variables

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Primary Data
5. Observation is a method of collecting

data on the phenomenon of interest by
recording the observations made about
the phenomenon as it actually happens.
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SecondaryData
Method of Collecting Secondary Data
✦ Published report on newspaper and periodicals
✦ Financial Data reported in annual reports
✦ Records maintained by the institution
✦ Internal reports of the government departments
✦ Information from official publications
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Reminders:
✦ Always investigate the validity and
reliability of the data by examining
the collection method employed by
your source.
✦ Do not use inappropriate data for
your research.
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References
Statistics. Informed Decision using Data by
Michael Sullivan, III,. Fifth Edition
Sampling: Design and Analysis by Sharon L.

Lhr. Second Edition

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Statistics

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LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Sample is the subset of the

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

1. The Philippine Mental Health Associations

Sample: 1,028 teenagers 13 to 17 years

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

2. A farmer wanted to learn about the

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Population: Entire soybean crop

Sample: 100 plants selected

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

1. The Philippine Mental Health Associations

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Population: Entire soybean crop

Sample: 100 plants selected

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

3. Janine wants to determine the variability of

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

4. A shipping company wishes to estimate the

5. A politician wants to determine the total

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2.Quantitative variables takes on numerical

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Quantitative variables may be further

A continuous variable is a quantitative

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1. The number of heads obtained after flipping a

✦ Inability to answer research questions

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Information that has

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16% of respondents to the second question

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

✦ Ethical, moral, and legal Concerns

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5. Observation is a method of collecting

Sampling: Design and Analysis by Sharon L.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

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