Some Definitions

Variable
Characteristic or attribute

that can assume different values

Random Variable

A variable whose values are determined by chance.

 constant
A quantity which assume only one value is
called constant .
 Continuous Variable

A variable which can assume any value

within a given range is called continuous
variable,e.g.hights,weights of individual,
speed of a car etc.
 Discrete Variable
A variable which can assume only some
specific value within the given range of
interval is called Discrete variable, e.g. no.
of children in a family ,no. of students in a
class.
 Types of data.

There are two types of data

.Qualitative Data
.Quantitative Data
Qualitative Data
Data which are described by a qualitative
variable is called Qualitative Data ,e.g.,
religion,sex etc.
 Quantitative data

Data described by quantitative

variable is called quantitative
data,e.g., heights, weights
Population
All subjects possessing a common characteristic

that is being studied.

Population Examples
• Unemployment - Status of ALL employable people (employed, unemployed)
in the U.S.
• SAT Scores - Math SAT scores of EVERY person that took the SAT during
2008.
•. Responses of ALL currently enrolled unerage college students as to whether
they have consumed alcohol in the last 24 hours
 Sample
A subgroup or subset of the population.

Examples
1. Unemployment - Status of the 1000
employable people interviewed.
2. SAT Scores - Math SAT scores of 20
people that took the SAT during 2008.
3. Responses of 538 currently enrolled
underage college students as to
whether they have consumed alcohol in
the last 24 hours
Population vs. Sample

Sample
 WHO CARES?

In most studies, it is difficult to obtain

information from the entire population.

•We rely on samples to make estimates

or inferences related to the population.
Parameter
Characteristic or measure obtained from a population.

Statistic (not to be confused with Statistics)

Characteristic or measure obtained from a sample.

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