Introduction to Statistics: Key Terms and Levels of Measurement

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational statistical concepts, data classifications, and levels of measurement from the lecture notes.

Statistics

The study of how to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret numerical information from data.

Data

Collections of observations, such as measurements, genders, or survey responses.

Population

The entire group of people or items containing the variable the researcher is interested studying.

Sample

A small group of items or people from the population.

Variable

A characteristic of the individual to be measured or observed.

Parameter

A numerical measurement describing characteristic of a population.

Statistic

A numerical measurement describing some characteristic of a sample.

Quantitative (Numerical) Data

Data obtained through counts or measurement.

Qualitative (Categorical) Data

Data that describe qualities, characteristics, or categories rather than numerical amounts.

Discrete Data

Data consisting of values that are countable.

Continuous Data

Data that can take on any value within a given interval.

Nominal Level of Measurement

Level characterized by data that consist of names, labels, or categories only, where data cannot be arranged in some order.

Ordinal Level of Measurement

Involves data that can be arranged in some order, but differences between data values either cannot be determined or are meaningless.

Interval Level of Measurement

Involves data that can be arranged in order, and differences between data values are meaningful, but there is no natural zero starting point.

Ratio Level of Measurement

Data that can be arranged in order, where differences and ratios are both meaningful, and there is a natural zero starting point where zero indicates the absence of the quantity.