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Chapter 1 Description and History of Statistical Science

Lecture on data gathering

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Jayvhan Balutoc
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261 views2 pages

Chapter 1 Description and History of Statistical Science

Lecture on data gathering

Uploaded by

Jayvhan Balutoc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS BSEE/BSCpE

Chapter 1
DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF STATISTICAL SCIENCE

Statistics: we can define it in two senses


a. In the plural sense : statistics are the raw data themselves , like statistics of
births, statistics of deaths, statistics of students, statistics of imports and
exports, etc.
b. In the singular sense statistics is the subject that deals with the collection,
organization, presentation, analysis and interpretation of numerical data

Classifications:
Depending on how data can be used statistics is some times divided in to two main areas or
branches.
1. Descriptive Statistics: is concerned with summary calculations, graphs, charts
and tables.
2. Inferential Statistics: is a method used to generalize from a sample to a
population. For example, the average income of all families (the population) in Ethiopia
can be estimated from figures obtained from a few hundred (the sample) families.
• It is important because statistical data usually arises from sample.
• Statistical techniques based on probability theory are required.

Stages in statistical investigation.


There are five stages or steps in any statistical investigation.
1. Collection of data: the process of measuring, gathering, assembling the raw data
up on which the statistical investigation is to be based.
Data can be collected in a variety of ways; one of the most common
methods is through the use of survey. Survey can also be done in different
methods, three of the most common methods are:
• Telephone survey
• Mailed questionnaire
• Personal interview.
2. Organization of data: Summarization of data in some meaningful way,
• table form
• graphical form
3. Presentation of the data: The process of re-organization, classification, compilation, and
summarization of data to present it in a meaningful form.
4. Analysis of data: The process of extracting relevant information from the
summarized data, mainly through the use of elementary mathematical operation.
5. Inference of data: The interpretation and further observation of the various statistical measures
through the analysis of the data by implementing those methods by which conclusions are formed
and inferences made.
• Statistical techniques based on probability theory are required.

DEFINITIONS OF SOME TERMS

1. A (statistical) population: is the complete set of possible measurements for


which inferences are to be made. The population represents the target of an
investigation, and the objective of the investigation is to draw conclusions about
the population hence we sometimes call it target population.
Examples
• Population of trees under specified climatic conditions
• Population of animals fed a certain type of diet
• Population of farms having a certain type of natural fertility
• Population of house holds, etc
➢The population could be finite or infinite (an imaginary collection of units)
➢There are two ways of investigation: Census and sample survey.
Prepared by: Pommy Frances A. Viloria
ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS BSEE/BSCpE

2. Census: a complete enumeration of the population. But in most real problems it cannot be realized,
hence we take sample.
3. Sample: A sample from a population is the set of measurements that are actually collected in the
course of an investigation. It should be selected using some pre-defined sampling technique in such
a way that they represent the population very well.
Examples:
• Monthly production data of a certain factory in the past 10 years.
• Small portion of a finite population.
•
In practice, we don’t conduct census, instead we conduct sample survey
4. Parameter: Characteristic or measure obtained from a population.
5. Statistic: Characteristic or measure obtained from a sample.
6. Sampling: The process or method of sample selection from the population.
7. Sample size: The number of elements or observation to be included in the sample.
8. Variable: It is an item of interest that can take on many different numerical values.

Types of Variables or Data

1. Qualitative Variables are nonnumeric variables and can't be measured.


Examples: gender, religious affiliation, and state of birth.
2. Quantitative Variables are numerical variables and can be measured.
Examples : include balance in checking account, number of children in family.

Note that quantitative variables are either discrete (which can assume only certain values,
and there are usually "gaps" between the values, such as the number of bedrooms in your house) or
continuous (which can assume any value within a specific range, such as the air pressure in a tire.)

Applications, Uses and Limitations of statistics.


Applications of statistics:
• In almost all fields of human endeavor.
• Almost all human beings in their daily life are subjected to obtaining
numerical facts e.g. abut price.
• Applicable in some process e.g. invention of certain drugs, extent of
environmental pollution.
• In industries especially in quality control area.

Uses of statistics:
The main function of statistics is to enlarge our knowledge of complex phenomena. The following are
some uses of statistics:
1. It presents facts in a definite and precise form.
2. Data reduction.
3. Measuring the magnitude of variations in data.
4. Furnishes a technique of comparison
5. Estimating unknown population characteristics.
6. Testing and formulating of hypothesis.
7. Studying the relationship between two or more variable.
8. Forecasting future events.
Limitations of statistics
As a science statistic has its own limitations. The following are some of the limitations:
• Deals with only quantitative information.
• Deals with only aggregate of facts and not with individual data items.
• Statistical data are only approximately and not mathematical correct.
• Statistics can be easily misused and therefore should be used be experts.

Prepared by: Pommy Frances A. Viloria

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