Statistics

N

population

n

sample

statistics

the science of collecting, organizing, summarizing, and analyzing info to draw conclusions or answer questions. Provides a measure of confidence in any conclusions.

population

entire group to be studied

sample

a subset of the population being studied

individual

a person or object that is a member of the population being studied

descriptive statistics

organizing and summarizing information collected

inferential statistics

use methods that generalize results obtained from a sample to the population and measure the reliability of the results

statistic

numerical summary of sample

parameter

numerical summary of a population

variables

characteristics of the individuals of the population being studied

qualitative variables

allow for classification of individuals based on some attribute or characteristic

quantitative variables

provide numerical measures of individuals

discrete variables

quantitative variable that has either a finite number of possible values or a countable number of possible values

continuous variables

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

data vary

within a group of individuals there is variation which can explain different results

process of statistics

identify research objective; collect the data needed to answer the question posed in the research objective; describe the data; perform inference (extend the results of the sample to the population and report a level of confidence in the results)

qualitative or quantitative?
nation of origin

qualitative

qualitative or quantitative?
grams of carbs in a doughnut

quantitative

qualitative or quantitative?
number of unpopped kernels in a bag of microwave popcorn

quantitative

qualitative or quantitative?
phone number

qualitative

discrete or continuous?
runs scored in a season by Albert Pujols

discrete

discrete or continuous?
length in minutes of a country song

continuous

discrete or continuous?
temperature on a randomly selected day in Memphis, TN

continuous

discrete or continuous?
points scored in an NCAA basketball game

discrete