4 CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Statistics

statcrunch 1-1 Overview

The Chapter Problem on the previous page involves surveys. A survey is one of
many tools that can be used for collecting data. A common goal of a survey is to
collect data from a small part of a larger group so that we can learn something
about the larger group. This is a common and important goal of the subject of
statistics: Learn about a large group by examining data from some of its members.
In this context, the terms sample and population become important. Formal defi-
nitions for these and other basic terms are given here.

Definitions
Data are observations (such as measurements, genders, survey responses) that
have been collected.
Statistics is a collection of methods for planning experiments, obtaining data,
and then organizing, summarizing, presenting, analyzing, interpreting, and draw-
ing conclusions based on the data.
A population is the complete collection of all elements (scores, people, mea-
surements, and so on) to be studied. The collection is complete in the sense that
it includes all subjects to be studied.
A census is the collection of data from every member of the population.
A sample is a subcollection of members selected from a population.

For example, a Gallup Poll asked this of 1087 adults: “Do you have occasion to
use alcoholic beverages such as liquor, wine, or beer, or are you a total abstainer?”
The 1087 survey subjects constitute a sample, whereas the population consists of
the entire collection of all 202,682,345 adult Americans. Every 10 years, the
United States government attempts to obtain a census of every citizen, but fails
because it is impossible to reach everyone. An ongoing controversy involves the
attempt to use sound statistical methods to improve the accuracy of the Census,
but political considerations are a key factor causing members of Congress to resist
this improvement. Perhaps some readers of this text will one day be members of
Congress with the wisdom to bring the Census into the twenty-first century.
An important activity of this book is to demonstrate how we can use sample
data to form conclusions about populations. We will see that it is extremely critical
to obtain sample data that are representative of the population from which the data
are drawn. For example, if you survey the alumni who graduated from your col-
lege by asking them to write their annual income and mail it back to you, the re-
sponses are not likely to be representative of the population of all alumni. Those
with low incomes will be less inclined to respond, and those who do respond may

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 1-2 Types of Data 5

be inclined to exaggerate. As we proceed through this chapter, we should focus on

these key concepts:
● Sample data must be collected in an appropriate way, such as through
a process of random selection.
● If sample data are not collected in an appropriate way, the data may be
so completely useless that no amount of statistical torturing can sal-
vage them.
Above all else, we ask that you begin your study of statistics with an open
mind. Don’t assume that the study of statistics is comparable to a root canal proce-
dure. It has been the author’s experience that students are often surprised by the
interesting nature of statistics, and they are also surprised by the fact that they can
actually master the basic principles without much difficulty, even if they have not
The State of
excelled in other mathematics courses. We are convinced that by the time you
complete this introductory course, you will be firm in your belief that statistics is
Statistics
an interesting and rich subject with applications that are extensive, real, and The word statistics is derived from
meaningful. We are also convinced that with regular class attendance and dili- the Latin word status (meaning
gence, you will succeed in mastering the basic concepts of statistics presented in “state”). Early uses of statistics
this course. involved compilations of data and
graphs describing various aspects
of a state or country. In 1662,
John Graunt published statistical
information about births and
deaths. Graunt’s work was fol-
lowed by studies of mortality and
disease rates, population sizes, in-
comes, and unemployment rates.
Households, governments, and
businesses rely heavily on statisti-
cal data for guidance. For exam-
ple, unemployment rates, inflation
rates, consumer indexes, and birth
and death rates are carefully com-
piled on a regular basis, and the
resulting data are used by business
leaders to make decisions affecting
future hiring, production levels,
and expansion into new markets.

An Addison-Wesley product. Copyright © 2004, Pearson Education, Inc.