Chapter 1 - Basic Ideas Statistics Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards defining fundamental statistical terms, variable types, population vs. sample distinctions, and study steps based on Chapter 1 lecture notes.

Statistics

The study of procedures for collecting, describing, and drawing conclusions from data.

Four Steps of a Typical Statistical Study

The sequence of actions in a statistical study: 1. Formulate questions. 2. Collect data needed to answer the questions. 3. Describe the data. 4. Draw conclusions, using appropriate methods.

Population

The entire collection of individuals about which information is sought.

Sample

A subset of a population, containing individuals that were actually observed.

Parameter

A number that describes a population.

Statistic

A number that describes a sample.

Good Sampling Methods

Sampling procedures that use some type of randomness in the process to increase the likelihood that the sample represents the population closely.

Sample of Convenience

A sampling method that does not use randomness in the process, making data collection fast and easy but less likely to represent the population closely.

Individuals

The people or things on which statistical information is collected.

Variables

The characteristics of the individuals about which information is collected, corresponding to column headers on a data spreadsheet.

Data

The actual values obtained for the variables, corresponding to the entries under headers on a data spreadsheet.

Quantitative Variables

Variables that tell how much or how many of something there is, representing a count or a measurement.

Qualitative Variables

Variables that classify individuals into categories, also referred to as categorical variables, which do not represent a count or a measurement.

Discrete Quantitative Variables

Quantitative variables whose possible values can be listed, typically representing counts as whole numbers.

Continuous Quantitative Variables

Quantitative variables that can, in principle, take on any value within some interval, typically representing measurements with specified units.