Historical Data Analysis and Statistics Vocabulary

This flashcard set covers foundational concepts of data sets, variables, types of distributions, and statistical representations like histograms and bar charts as used in historical data analysis.

Data set

A group of data selected or gathered by the historian to help answer a particular question, usually consisting of a series of cases.

Case

One or more pieces of information relating to a particular unit of investigation.

Variable

Each piece of information relating to a case; a measure associated with each case in the data set.

Data matrix

A convenient way of organising and tabulating a data set.

Vector

A column or row of information from a data matrix.

Cell

A single unit of information in a data matrix.

Distribution

The full range of values for any one variable, such as the range of values in a column vector.

Frequency

The number of times any one value of the variable occurs.

Frequency distribution

A tabulation showing the frequency with which a particular variable occurs, sorted into simple, grouped, and cumulative frequency.

Frequency polygon

A graphic provide a clearer visual picture of the character of a frequency distribution.

Histogram

A diagrammatic representation of a frequency distribution consisting of a series of rectangles or bars with a width proportional to the class interval and an area proportional to the frequency.

Bar charts

A chart used for ordinal, nominal, and interval data where the length of the bar is proportional to the observed frequencies and width is not important.

Independent variable

The aspect of a case that is influenced by the other variable, usually plotted on the x-axis.

Dependent variable

The dependent/changing aspect of a case that is influenced by the other variable, usually plotted on the x-axis.

Scatter plot/diagram

A type of plot or mathematical diagram using Cartesian coordinates to display values for typically two variables for a set of data.

Cartogram

A modern invention that superimposes graphs, such as pie charts, onto a geographical map to make a point.

Normal distribution

A classical symmetrical bell shape of data occurring when all measures of central tendency are equal to each other.

Positively skewed distribution

A type of distribution in which most values are clustered around the left tail, while the right tail of the distribution is longer.

Negatively skewed distribution

A type of distribution where the left tail of the distribution is longer, the opposite of a positively skewed distribution.

Standard deviation

The average distance from the mean.

Variance

$$\text{SD}^2$$