Chapter 1: The Nature of Probability and Statistics - Key Concepts (Sections 1.1–1.5)

Flashcards cover key concepts from Chapter 1: The Nature of Probability and Statistics (Sections 1.1–1.5).

Statistics

The science of conducting studies to collect, organize, summarize, analyze data, and draw conclusions from data.

What are the main activities involved in statistics?

Collect data, organize data, summarize data, analyze data, and draw conclusions from data.

Descriptive Statistics

Collecting, organizing, summarizing and presenting data using charts, graphs, and tables.

Inferential Statistics

Generalizing from samples to populations, performing estimations and hypothesis tests, determining relationships among variables, and making predictions.

Population (n.)

The collection of all individuals of interest in a statistical study.

Census (v.)

Obtain information from the whole population.

Sample (n.)

A group of individuals selected from a population.

Data

The raw facts and figures that are collected and analyzed in a statistical study.

Parameter

Numerical summary of a population.

Statistic

Numerical summary of a sample.

Individuals (subjects, experimental unit)

The entities on which data are collected.

Variable

Individual characteristics that can take on different values.

Quantitative Variables

Variables that can be counted and measured (e.g., height, number of subscriptions).

Discrete

Variables that assume specific values on the numerical axis.

Continuous

Variables that assume any value on the numerical axis (measurements).

Qualitative (Categorical) Variables

Variables that have distinct categories according to some characteristics (e.g., hair color, gender).

Binary Variable

A qualitative variable that has only two categories of outcomes.

Which of the following is a binary variable?

Gender (two categories: typically male and female).

Discrete Data Examples

Examples include the number of hours per week that children 12–15 watched television; the number of touchdowns a quarterback scored per year.

Continuous Data Examples

Examples include the amount of money earned per week; the weights of football players.

Census vs Sample (definitions)

Census: obtain information from the whole population. Sample: obtain information from a subset of the population.