The Science

of Statistics
b as i c i de as an d c o n c e p t s
 What Is Statistics?
1. Collecting Data Data Why?
e.g., Survey Analysis
2. Presenting Data
e.g., Charts & Tables

3. Characterizing Data Decision-

e.g., Average Making

1984-1994 T/Maker Co.

 What Is Statistics?
STATISTICS is the science of
data. It involves collecting,
classifying, summarizing, organizing,
analyzing, and interpreting numerical
information.
 Some Application Areas
Economics Education
Forecasting Student Assessment
Demographics School Reports

Sports Business
Individual & Team Consumer Preferences
Performance Financial Trends
 Statistics: Two Processes
Describing sets of data
and
Drawing conclusions (making estimates,
decisions, predictions, etc. about sets of data
based on sampling)
 Statistical Methods
Statistical
Methods

Descriptive Inferential
Statistics Statistics
 Descriptive Statistics

1. Involves
50
Collecting Data
Presenting Data 25
Characterizing Data
0
2. Purpose Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Describe Data
X = 30.5 S2 = 113
 Inferential Statistics
1. Involves
Population?
Estimation
Hypothesis
Testing

2. Purpose
Make decisions about population
characteristics
 Fundamental Elements of
Statistics
1. Experimental unit
Object upon which we collect data P in Population
& Parameter
2. Population
All items of interest S in Sample
& Statistic
3. Variable
Characteristic of an individual
experimental unit
4. Sample
Subset of the units of a population
 Random Sample
Every sample of size n has an equal chance of selection.
 Statistical Computer Packages

Typical Software
SPSS
MINITAB
Excel
STATISTICA

but one needs statistical

understanding
 Key Ideas
DEFINITION OF STATISTICS
SOME APPLICATION AREAS
STATISTICAL METHODS
FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF STATISTICS
STATISTICAL COMPUTER PACKAGES