Introduction to Statistics

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and examples related to statistics, including various types of data, levels of measurement, and statistical methods.

Statistics

A collection of quantitative data derived from the Latin word 'status', meaning 'state'.

Quantitative Data

Numerical data that can be used to measure and analyze variables.

Descriptive Statistics

Methods of organizing, summarizing, and presenting data to yield meaningful information.

Inferential Statistics

Techniques used to make generalizations about a larger body based on a subset of data.

Population

The entire set of individuals or entities under consideration in a study.

Variable

A measurable characteristic of interest for each individual in the universe.

Qualitative Variable

A variable that consists of categories or attributes with non-numerical characteristics.

Quantitative Variable

A variable that consists of numbers representing counts or measurements.

Discrete Quantitative Variable

A variable that results from a finite or countable number of possible values.

Continuous Quantitative Variable

A variable that results from infinitely many possible values associated with points on a continuous scale.

Sample

A sub-collection of elements drawn from a larger population.

Parameter

A numerical measurement describing a characteristic of a population.

Statistics (as a measurement)

A numerical measurement describing a characteristic of a sample.

Census Survey

A survey conducted by gathering information from the entire population.

Sampling Survey

A survey that gathers information from only part of the population.

Nominal Level of Measurement

Data that consists of names, labels, or categories only, without any order.

Ordinal Level of Measurement

Data that can be arranged in order, but differences between values are not meaningful.

Interval Level of Measurement

Data with meaningful differences between values, but no true zero point.

Ratio Level of Measurement

Data with a true zero starting point, where differences and ratios between values are meaningful.