STA 114 - General Statistics Lecture 1: Data Types, Collection, Sources, Quality and Measurement Scales

Flashcards covering the definitions, categories of statistics, data types, sources, quality metrics, and measurement scales from the STA 114 introductory lecture.

Statistics (Numerical Perspctive)

Numerical records of any kind such as sports records, stock market prices, budget estimates, sales records, hospital attendance records, school admission records etc.

Statistics (Discipline Perspective)

A branch of knowledge or a field of study that is domain neutral, using methods and principles that are scientific.

Statistics (Anderson, Sweeney and Williams definition)

The study of how data are collected, how they are analysed, how they are presented, and how they are interpreted.

Statistics (Pal and Sarkar definition)

The branch of science where we plan, gather and analyze information about a particular collection of individuals or objects under investigation.

Statistics (Jaisingh definition)

The science of collecting, organizing, summarizing, analyzing, and making inferences from data.

Data

The facts and figures that are collected, analyzed, and summarized when you conduct a study.

Observation

The resulting value when a particular characteristic or an attribute is measured or observed in an object.

Variable

A characteristic or attribute that is measured or observed in an object.

Descriptive (Deductive) statistics

Statistical procedures or methods used to summarize, organize and simplify collected data in a convenient and informative way without making definitive conclusions about a population.

Inferential (Inductive) statistics

The branch of statistics concerned with generalizing information or making estimates, predictions, or decisions about a population based on a sample.

Quantitative variable

A variable measured on a numerical scale, with the resulting data referred to as metric data (e.g., heights, weights, and market prices).

Discrete variable

A quantitative variable that takes whole numbers only, such as family size.

Continuous variable

A quantitative variable that can take any value within a range of values, such as height.

Qualitative Variable

Non-numerical items classified into groups or categories, such as gender or eye colour, that are not computable by arithmetic relations.

Unpublished sources

Also known as administrative sources; data existing in original form in files, log-books, and registration forms of government or non-government departments.

Published sources

Accessible data from statistical abstracts, bulletins, research reports, learned journals, newspapers, and miscellaneous periodicals.

Electronic sources

Data sources made available through information technology, including the World Wide Web (www), internet/intranet, direct data capturing machines, and Global System of Mobile phones (GSM).

Statistical Survey

An investigation carried out to find facts in particular fields of inquiry to solve social, business, academic, or economic problems.

Sample survey

An examination of a part of a population used to make inference about the whole population as a practical alternative to a census.

Experiments

A study where Measurements of a system are taken, the system is manipulated, and additional measurements are taken to determine if the manipulation modified the values.

Accessibility (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is available, or easily and quickly retrievable.

Completeness/coverage (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is not missing and is of sufficient breadth and depth for the task at hand.

Free-of-Error (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is correct and reliable.

Interpretability (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is in appropriate languages, symbols, and units, with clear definitions.

Relevance (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is applicable and helpful for the task at hand.

Integrity (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is highly regarded in terms of its source or content.

Objectivity (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is unbiased, unprejudiced, and impartial.

Timeliness (Data Quality)

The extent to which the data is sufficiently up-to-date for the task at hand.

Security (Data Quality)

The extent to which access to data is restricted appropriately to maintain its security.

Understandability (Data Quality)

The extent to which data is comprehended.

Measurement

The assignment of numbers or symbols to objects or events in a systematic fashion.

Measurement Scales

The four levels or scales of data identified as Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio.