Introduction to the Study of Statistics

Including discussion on Variables: Discrete & Continuous

and Parameter and Statistic

Presented by:
Karma Yasmin B. Ortiz
Masters in Public Administration
 What is Statistics?
• The science concerned with developing
and studying methods for collecting,
analyzing, interpreting and presenting
empirical data;

• A highly interdisciplinary field, finds

applicability in virtually all scientific fields;

• In developing methods and studying the

theory that underlies the methods,
statisticians draw on a variety of
mathematical and computational tools.
Source: https://www.stat.uci.edu/what-is-statistics/
 Two Fundamental Ideas in the
Field of Statistics
Uncertainty Variation
Means we do not know the Refers to the multiple
value (or outcome) of some values a quantity has at
quantity. It refers to the different locations, times
degree of precision with or instances.
which a quantity is measured

Example: The amount of a certain pollutant in the air is variable: it varies from place to
place and from time to time. However, the uncertainty in the amount of that pollutant
present in a particular place at a particular time depends on the quality (and presence or
absence) of the instruments used to measure it.
 Why is Statistics Important?

It keeps us Enables the Supports Plays an

informed about, government to modern important role in
what is use a scientific economy in scientific studies
happening in approach for order to to address a
the world evidence based produce positive particular
around us policy and outcomes in problem or
decision commerce, concern
making. research, and
governance

Source: https://medium.com/@john_marsh7/10-awesome-reasons-why-statistics-are-important-96b87e283640
The Statistical Inquiry Cycle

Problem

Conclusio
Plan
n

PPDAC

Analysis Data
 Determines what issues need to be
addressed, what data will likely be
needed, and what tools and procedures
will be used

Problem Should be clearly defined before

beginning the following stages

Defining the problem is not always

a single event in this process.
 Creates an approach that is used to
address the problem.

Involves the preparation of a

detailed project plan, which may
include the following:
Plan • Estimated cost of data
• Equipment required
• Outline of tasks that should be
completed
• Timelines for completing the
work, and
• List software tools that may be
used
 Must be collected to perform the
desired analysis

Data Because not all datasets will be of the

same quality, considerations must be
made in order to account for issues
that may exist, such as missing data,
differences in availability, cost,
resolution, formatting, or error
 Sort the data
Make labels and graphs
Look for patterns
Explore what's going on

A multi-part exercise, involving

Analysis review and manipulation of
collected data to make it useable

Study of the data to identify patterns

relevant to the problem at hand
 Drawn from data analysis and
presented to others

Implementation of the conclusions is

not included in this process
Conclusion Can possibly lead to more problems to
be answered, and additional analysis.

Provides an opportunity to discuss

the strengths and weaknesses of the
plan, data, and analysis.
Variables
Discrete and
Continuous
 What are Variables?

Any Value may vary

characteristics, between data units
number, or in a population,
quantity that can and may change in
be measured or value over time
counted
For example; 'income' is a variable that can vary between data units in a population
(i.e. the people or businesses being studied may not have the same incomes) and
can also vary over time for each data unit (i.e. income can go up or down)

Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/a3121120.nsf/home/statistical+language
 Types of Variables

Numeric variables Categorical variables

Have values that describe a Have values that describe a 'quality'

measurable quantity as a number, or 'characteristic' of a data unit, like
like 'how many' or 'how much'. 'what type' or 'which category'.
Therefore numeric variables are Therefore, categorical variables are
quantitative variables qualitative variables and tend to be
represented by a non-numeric value
• Continuous • Ordinal
• Discrete • Nominal
 Importance of Variables

Helps in Contain a value or Good variable needs to

operationalization of description of what is have some properties
concepts for data being studied in the such as good reliability
collection. sample or population and validity, low bias,
feasibility/ practicality, low
cost, objectivity, clarity,
and acceptance.

Source: https://explorable.com/variables-and-statistics
Discrete Variables
• Discrete variables are variables in which no values may be
assumed between the two given values;

• Observations can take a value based on a count from a set of

distinct whole values;

• Examples: number of registered cars, number of business

locations, and number of children in a family, all of of which
measured as whole units (i.e. 1, 2, 3 cars)
Continuous Variables
• Can take any value in between the two given values;

• Observations can take any value between a certain set of real

numbers;

• The value given to an observation for a continuous variable can

include values as small as the instrument of measurement
allows;

• Examples of continuous variables include height, time, age, and

temperature.
 How to differentiate continuous and
discrete variables

If, for every pair Discrete variables Continuous

of values of a are countable in variables are
variable, a value a finite amount measured and
exactly mid-way of time can take any
between them is value over an
meaningful, the interval.
variable is
continuous.
Parameter and Statistics
 What is the difference between
Parameter and Statistics?
PARAMETER STATISTICS
Describes and Describes and summarizes
summarizes data for data from a sample i.e.
an entire population some subset of the entire
population

A fixed, unknown A known number and a

numerical value variable which depends on the
portion of the population

Example: All married males in Example: 35% of married

Cagayan de Oro City males in Cagayan de Oro City
 Ask yourself, is this a fact about the whole
population?
• Parameter implies a summary description
of the characteristics of the target
population
• The parameter is drawn from the
measurements of units in the population
How to tell the
difference between Ask yourself, is this obviously a fact about a
very large population? If it is, you have a
Parameter and statistic.
• The statistic is a summary value of a small
Statistics?
group of population i.e. sample
• The statistic is drawn from the
measurement of the elements of the
sample.
 To illustrate...
Barangay Pag-Asa

Average age of the all the

residents of Brgy. Pag-Asa
PARAMETER
Average age of residents in
Barangay Pag-Asa

100,000 people
Average age of the sample
residents of Brgy. Pag-Asa
STATISTIC

100 residents
Thank you for listening!