Intro to Stats

What is the common usage of the term statistics?

Statistics refers to numerical facts.

What is the second meaning of statistics?

Statistics refers to the field or discipline of study.

How can statistics be defined?

A group of methods used to collect, analyze, present, and interpret data to make decisions.

What are the two broad areas of statistics?

Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

What does descriptive statistics consist of?

Methods for organizing, displaying, and describing data using tables, graphs, and summary measures.

What does inferential statistics consist of?

Methods that use sample results to help make decisions or predictions about a population.

Why learn about inferential statistics?

It provides empirical support for recommendations, interventions, improves judgment, assists with grant writing, and enhances the probability of success in business and research.

What does inferential statistics allow you to do?

Generalize findings to a larger population, assess the strength of relations, and make academic output more acceptable.

What is the difference between population and sample?

Population consists of all elements being studied, while a sample is a portion of the population selected for study.

What is a survey?

The collection of information from the elements of a population or a sample.

What is a census?

A survey that includes every member of the population.

What is a representative sample?

A sample that represents the characteristics of the population as closely as possible.

What is a random sample?

A sample drawn in such a way that each element of the population has a chance of being selected.

What is sampling with replacement?

Each time we select an element from the population, we put it back before selecting the next element.

What is sampling without replacement?

Occurs when the selected element is not replaced in the population.

What is an element or member in statistics?

A specific subject or object about which information is collected.

What is a variable?

A characteristic under study that assumes different values for different elements.

What is an observation or measurement?

The value of a variable for an element.

What is a data set?

A collection of observations on one or more variables.

What are quantitative variables?

Variables that can be measured numerically and can be discrete or continuous.

What are discrete variables?

Variables whose values are countable and can assume only certain values.

What are continuous variables?

Variables that can assume any numerical value over a certain interval.

What are qualitative or categorical variables?

Variables that cannot assume a numerical value but can be classified into nonnumeric categories.

What is the nominal level of measurement?

Categorizes variables without order and is used for qualitative data, e.g., gender.

What is the ordinal level of measurement?

Displays order or rating of variables without numerical values, e.g., level of education.

What is the interval level of measurement?

Includes properties of nominal and ordinal scales, shows meaningful divisions, and is used for quantitative data, e.g., temperature.

What is the ratio level of measurement?

Used for quantitative data, shows absolute zero, and allows for all mathematical operations, e.g., weight.

What is cross-section data?

Contains information on different elements of a population for the same period of time, e.g., incomes of 100 families for 2009.

What is time-series data?

Contains information on the same element for different periods of time, e.g., total number of indoor movie screens in the U.S. from 2003 to 2008.

What is summation notation?

What is the common usage of the term statistics?

Statistics refers to numerical facts.

What is the second meaning of statistics?

Statistics refers to the field or discipline of study.

How can statistics be defined?

A group of methods used to collect, analyze, present, and interpret data to make decisions.

What are the two broad areas of statistics?

Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

What does descriptive statistics consist of?

Methods for organizing, displaying, and describing data using tables, graphs, and summary measures.

What does inferential statistics consist of?

Methods that use sample results to help make decisions or predictions about a population.

Why learn about inferential statistics?

It provides empirical support for recommendations, interventions, improves judgment, assists with grant writing, and enhances the probability of success in business and research.

What does inferential statistics allow you to do?

Generalize findings to a larger population, assess the strength of relations, and make academic output more acceptable.

What is the difference between population and sample?

Population consists of all elements being studied, while a sample is a portion of the population selected for study.

What is a survey?

The collection of information from the elements of a population or a sample.

What is a census?

A survey that includes every member of the population.

What is a representative sample?

A sample that represents the characteristics of the population as closely as possible.

What is a random sample?

A sample drawn in such a way that each element of the population has a chance of being selected.

What is sampling with replacement?

Each time we select an element from the population, we put it back before selecting the next element.

What is sampling without replacement?

Occurs when the selected element is not replaced in the population.

What is an element or member in statistics?

A specific subject or object about which information is collected.

What is a variable?

A characteristic under study that assumes different values for different elements.

What is an observation or measurement?

The value of a variable for an element.

What is a data set?

A collection of observations on one or more variables.

What are quantitative variables?

Variables that can be measured numerically and can be discrete or continuous.

What are discrete variables?

Variables whose values are countable and can assume only certain values.

What are continuous variables?

Variables that can assume any numerical value over a certain interval.

What are qualitative or categorical variables?

Variables that cannot assume a numerical value but can be classified into nonnumeric categories.

What is the nominal level of measurement?

Categorizes variables without order and is used for qualitative data, e.g., gender.

What is the ordinal level of measurement?

Displays order or rating of variables without numerical values, e.g., level of education.

What is the interval level of measurement?

Includes properties of nominal and ordinal scales, shows meaningful divisions, and is used for quantitative data, e.g., temperature.

What is the ratio level of measurement?

Used for quantitative data, shows absolute zero, and allows for all mathematical operations, e.g., weight.

What is cross-section data?

Contains information on different elements of a population for the same period of time, e.g., incomes of 100 families for 2009.

What is time-series data?

Contains information on the same element for different periods of time, e.g., total number of indoor movie screens in the U.S. from 2003 to 2008.

What is summation notation?

Denotes the sum of values using the uppercase Greek letter Σ (sigma).

How is summation notation used?

For example, ‚àë_(n=2)^6 (a_n) instructs us to add the numbers from 2 to 6.

What are the two meanings of statistics?

1. Numerical facts 2. Field or discipline of study

Define statistics.

A group of methods used to collect, analyze, present, and interpret data to make decisions

What are the two broad areas of statistics?

1. Descriptive statistics 2. Inferential statistics

What does descriptive statistics consist of?

Methods for organizing, displaying, and describing data using tables, graphs, and summary measures

What is inferential statistics?

Methods that use sample results to help make decisions or predictions about a population

Why learn inferential statistics?

1. Generalize findings to larger population 2. Assess strength of relations between variables 3. Enhance acceptance of academic output 4. Assess relative impact of program inputs on outcomes

Define population in statistics.

All elements—individuals, items, or objects—whose characteristics are being studied

What is a sample?

A portion of the population selected for study

What is a survey?

The collection of information from the elements of a population or a sample

Define census.

A survey that includes every member of the population

What is a sample survey?

The technique of collecting information from a portion of the population

What is a representative sample?

A sample that represents the characteristics of the population as closely as possible

What is a random sample?

A sample drawn so that each element of the population has a chance of being selected

What is sampling with replacement?

Each time we select an element from the population, we put it back in before selecting the next element

What is sampling without replacement?

Occurs when the selected element is not replaced in the population

What are quantitative variables?

Variables that can be measured numerically and classified as discrete or continuous

Define discrete variables.

A variable whose values are countable and can assume only certain values with no intermediate values

Define continuous variables.

A variable that can assume any numerical value over a certain interval

What are qualitative or categorical variables?

Variables that cannot assume a numerical value but can be classified into nonnumeric categories

What are the four basic levels or scales of variables?

1. Nominal 2. Ordinal 3. Interval 4. Ratio

What are the properties of the interval scale of measurement?

1. Includes properties of nominal and ordinal scales 2. Shows meaningful divisions between variables 3. Used for quantitative data 4. Difference between variables can be numerical 5. Holds no true zero

What are the properties of the ratio scale of measurement?

1. Used for quantitative data 2. Shows absolute value of zero 3. Variables can be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided 4. Includes true zero value

List the four basic types of data.

1. Cross-Sectional Data 2. Time-Series Data 3. Pooled Data 4. Panel Data (Longitudinal Data)

What does the summation notation Σ represent?

The sum of values

Fill in the blank: A _______ is a survey that includes every member of the population.

Census

What is the common usage of the term statistics?

Statistics refers to numerical facts.

What is the second meaning of statistics?

Statistics refers to the field or discipline of study.

How is summation notation used?

For example, ‚àë(n=2)^6 (an) instructs us to add the numbers from 2 to 6.

What are the two meanings of statistics?

"1. Numerical facts. 2 Field or discipline of study"

Define statistics.

A group of methods used to collect, analyze, present, and interpret data to make decisions

What are the two broad areas of statistics?

"1. Descriptive statistics 2. Inferential Statistics

What does descriptive statistics consist of?

Methods for organizing, displaying, and describing data using tables, graphs, and summary measures

What is inferential statistics?

Methods that use sample results to help make decisions or predictions about a population

Why learn inferential statistics?

"1. Generalize findings to larger population

Why learn inferential statistics?

Genrealize findings to larger population

Define population in statistics.

All elements—individuals, items, or objects—whose characteristics are being studied

What is a sample?

A portion of the population selected for study

What is a survey?

The collection of information from the elements of a population or a sample

Define census.

A survey that includes every member of the population

What is a sample survey?

The technique of collecting information from a portion of the population

What is a representative sample?

A sample that represents the characteristics of the population as closely as possible

What is a random sample?

A sample drawn so that each element of the population has a chance of being selected

What is sampling with replacement?

Each time we select an element from the population, we put it back in before selecting the next element

What is sampling without replacement?

Occurs when the selected element is not replaced in the population

What are quantitative variables?

Variables that can be measured numerically and classified as discrete or continuous

Define discrete variables.

A variable whose values are countable and can assume only certain values with no intermediate values

Define continuous variables.

A variable that can assume any numerical value over a certain interval

What are qualitative or categorical variables?

Variables that cannot assume a numerical value but can be classified into nonnumeric categories

What are the four basic levels or scales of variables?

"1. Nominal 2. Ordinal 3. Interval 4. Ratio

What are the properties of the interval scale of measurement?

"1. Includes properties of nominal and ordinal scales

What are the properties of the ratio scale of measurement?

Used for Quantitative data

What does the summation notion - represent?

The sum of values

Fill in the blank: A ____ is a survey that includes every member of the population

Census

What are the properties of the ratio scale of measurement?

"1. Used for quantitative data

What does the summation notation Σ represent?

The sum of values

Fill in the blank: A _ is a survey that includes every member of the population.

Census

What is the common usage of the term statistics?

Statistics refers to numerical facts.

What is the second meaning of statistics?

Statistics refers to the field or discipline of study.

What are the four basic levels or scales of variables?

They are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.