Introduction to Statistics and Data Types

These flashcards cover the basic principles of statistics, key concepts about data types, and methods of statistical analysis.

What is the definition of Statistics?

Statistics is the science of extracting information from data.

What are the main aspects of Statistics?

Data collection, summarizing, graphical representation of data, and drawing conclusions from data.

What is Descriptive Statistics?

Graphical and tabular methods used to summarise and order data.

What does Statistical Inference refer to?

Methods used to make conclusions about a population from sample data.

What is a variable in statistics?

Any property of an observed element that can vary from one element to the next.

What are the two main types of variables?

Discrete and continuous variables.

What characterizes a discrete variable?

A variable is discrete if the possible values that it can take are clearly distinguishable and disconnected.

What characterizes a continuous variable?

A variable is continuous if the possible values are not clearly distinguishable; between two values, one can always find another value.

What is the Nominal scale in statistics?

Values indicate classes or categories without any specific order.

What is the Ordinal scale?

Values indicate classes or categories that also have an order associated with them.

What is the Interval scale?

Properties of an ordinal scale, but ratios between values have meaning.

What is the Ratio scale?

Like the interval scale, but the ratios between the values have meaning.

What process involves assigning a numerical value to a property of an observed element?

Measurement.

What influences results in data collection?

The amount of data and the objective (should be uninvolved).