Definition of Statistics

Statistics is a branch of applied mathematics concerned with collecting, organizing, and

interpreting data. The data are represented by means of graphs.

Statistics is also the mathematical study of the likelihood and probability of events occurring
based on known quantitative data or a collection of data.

Statistics, thus attempts to infer the properties of a large collection of data from inspection of
a sample of the collection thereby allowing educated guesses to be made with a minimum
of expense.

The Importance of Statistics

The field of statistics is the science of learning from data. Statistical knowledge helps
you use the proper methods to collect the data, employ the correct analyses, and
effectively present the results. Statistics is a crucial process behind how we make
discoveries in science, make decisions based on data, and make predictions. Statistics
allows you to understand a subject much more deeply.

Functions or Uses of Statistics

1) Statistics helps in providing a better understanding and exact description of a
phenomenon of nature.
2) Statistics helps in the proper and efficient planning of a statistical inquiry in any field of study.
3) Statistics helps in collecting appropriate quantitative data.
4) Statistics helps in presenting complex data in a suitable tabular, diagrammatic and graphic form
for easy and clear comprehension of the data.
5) Statistics helps in understanding the nature and pattern of variability of a
phenomenon through quantitative observations.
6) Statistics helps in drawing valid inferences, along with a measure of their
reliability about the population parameters from the sample data.

2 major type of statistics

Descriptive Statistics Definition

The descriptive statistics is the type of statistical analysis which helps to describes about the data in some
meaningful way. This statistics is used to describe quantitatively about the important features of the data
or information. The descriptive statistics gives the summaries of the given sample as well as the
observations done. These summaries or descriptions can either be graphical or quantitative.
Inferential Statistics Definition

Inferential statistics is the type of statistics which deals with making conclusions. It inferences about the
predictions for the population. It also analyses the sample. Basically, the inferential statistics is the
procedure of drawing predictions and conclusions about the given data which is subjected to the random
variations. Inferential statistics includes detection and prediction of observational and sampling errors.
This type of statistics is being utilized in order to make estimates and test the hypotheses using given
data.

Difference between a population and a sample

-A population is a collection of people, items, or events about which you want to make inferences. It
is not always convenient or possible to examine every member of an entire population. For example,
it is not practical to count the bruises on all apples picked at an orchard. It is possible, however, to
count the bruises on a set of apples taken from that population. This subset of the population is called
a sample.
-A sample is a subset of people, items, or events from a larger population that you collect and
analyze to make inferences. To represent the population well, a sample should be randomly collected
and adequately large.

Differences between Parameter and Statistic

 A parameter describes a whole population
A parameter is a fixed, unknown value
 . In most cases, a parameter is not directly observable and calculable (unless
we’re talking about very small populations which can easily be surveyed or
observed in their entirety).
 In case of parameters, the Greek letter “mu” represents the population
mean.

 A statistic describes a sample but can be used to estimate the characteristics

of whole populations.

 A statistic is a known variable that depends on the sample.

 A statistic is easily observable and directly calculable.

 In case of statistics, the “x-bar” symbol represents the sample mean, and
most other notations differ too.

Difference between variable and data

Two types of variables
Quantitative Variable

A quantitative variable is measured numerically. With measurements of quantitative variables you can do things like
add and subtract, and multiply and divide, and get a meaningful result. In the previous example, "Age" was a
quantitative variable.

Qualitative/Categorical variables

These allow for classification based on some characteristic. With measurements of qualitative/categorical variables
you cannot do things like add and subtract, and multiply and divide, and get a meaningful result. In the previous
example, "Gender" was a qualitative/categorical variable. Gender was categorized as either male or female.

The four scale and level data of measurements

Nominal Level of Measurement

The nominal level of measurement is the lowest of the four ways to characterize
data. Nominal means "in name only" and that should help to remember what this
level is all about. Nominal data deals with names, categories, or labels.

Ordinal Level of Measurement

The next level is called the ordinal level of measurement. Data at this level can be
ordered, but no differences between the data can be taken that are meaningful

Interval Level of Measurement

The interval level of measurement deals with data that can be ordered, and in
which differences between the data does make sense. Data at this level does not
have a starting point.

Ratio Level of Measurement

The fourth and highest level of measurement is the ratio level. Data at the ratio
level possess all of the features of the interval level, in addition to a zero value.
Due to the presence of a zero, it now makes sense to compare the ratios of
measurements. Phrases such as "four times" and "twice" are meaningful at the
ratio level.