Statistics Chapter 1 Study Guide How do we get good data?

? *** You should have all of this information in your notes; however, because of the missing books situation, I will give you a filled out study guide in class to supplement class notes. In the future, I will only give you a blank version for you to study from with your book *** 1.1 Where do data come from? Statistics the art and science of dealing with data Individuals the objects described by a set of data Variables any characteristic of an individual o Numerical variables involving numbers o Categorical variables that do not involve numbers Observational study observes individuals and measures variables of interest but does not attempt to influence the responses. The purpose is to describe some group or situation Sample surveys survey some group of individuals by studying only some of its members, selected not because they are of special interest, but because they represent the larger group Population the entire group of individuals about which we want information Sample a part of the population from which we actually collect information, which is used to draw conclusions about the whole Census - a sample survey that attempts to include the entire population in the sample Experiment deliberately imposes some treatment on individuals in order to observe their responses. The purpose is to study whether the treatment causes a change in the response 1.2 Measuring Measure a property of a person or thing when we assign a number to represent the property Instrument thing used to make a measurement Units used to record the measurement Variable numerical variables are measureable Valid a variable is a valid measure of a property if it is relevant or appropriate as a representation of that property Rate (fraction, proportion, or percent) rate at which something occurs is more valid than a simple count of occurrences Count amount of times something occurs Predictive validity a measurement of a property has predictive validity if it can be used to predict success on tasks that are related to the property measured Bias systematically overstates or understates the true value of the property it measures Reliable if random error is small

Averages are more reliable than counts Errors in measurement measured value = true value + bias + random error Random error a measurement process has random error if repeated measurements on the same individual give different results

1.3 Do the numbers make sense? Percent change amount of change x 100 = % Change starting value Missing information important information left out of the report or advertisement on purpose Inconsistencies numbers that dont agree as they should Incorrect arithmetic calculation errors Implausible surprisingly large or small numbers Too regular or agree too well if the data agrees too perfectly, it might be cause for suspicion Hidden agenda if the data is trying to convince you to think a certain way