Stat 114: Introduction to Statistics

Statistics

Branch of science that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data.

Statistical inquiry

Designed research providing information needed to solve a research problem.

Parameter estimation

Describing characteristics of a population through computation.

Contrast

Comparing characteristics of elements in different subgroups.

Assertion justification

Justifying claims made by a researcher about a population characteristic.

Information

Processed data.

Population

Collection of all elements under a statistical inquiry.

Sample

Subset of the population.

Elements

Units whose characteristics will be observed and measured to answer a research problem.

Variable

Characteristic or attribute of elements that can assume different values for different elements.

Observation

Realized value of a variable measured from an experiment.

Data

Collection of observations.

Summary measure

Single numeric figure that describes a particular feature of the whole collection.

Parameter

Describes a specific characteristic of a population.

Statistic

Describes a specific characteristic of a sample.

Applied statistics

Procedures and techniques used in the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data.

Descriptive Statistics

Techniques used for data on hand; cannot make generalizations if data is sample data.

Inferential Statistics

Analyzing sample data to make generalizations.

Probability theory

Helps understand possible errors in statistical conclusions.

Theoretical/mathematical statistics

Development of mathematical foundations used in applied statistics.