1.1 THE STRUCTURE OF DATA

What are statistics?

 is the science of collecting, describing, and analyzing data. In this chapter, we discuss effective ways to collect data.

What are cases/units?

We call the subjects or objects that we obtain information or data about units or cases

What are variables?

• Any characteristic that is recorded for each case. The variables generally correspond to the columns in a data table 

  • In short, a piece of info. For cases 

    • This is usually displayed in visual aids

What are datasets and data tables?

• A dataset is the collection of data about a group of cases or units. The dataset may be displayed in a data table, where each row contains the information for each case

  • Just a way to display info

    • Each row refers to a case; each column refers to a variable

What is a categorical variable?

• Divides the cases into groups, placing (AVRG.) each case into exactly one or two or more categories

  • Case to groups 

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CATEGORICAL VARIABLE?

• This could possibly be a yes-or-no question.

• Right V. left-handed

What is a quantitative variable?

• Measures or records a numerical quantity for each case. Numerical operations like adding and averaging make sense for quantitative variables 

  • Can't be grouped 

  • They also give numbers

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A QUANTITATIVE VARIABLE?

• EX: SSN, year of birth

What is an explanatory variable?

• If we are using one variable to help us understand or predict values of another variable, we call the former the explanatory variable

  • is a factor that explains, influences, or predicts changes in another variable

What are examples of an EV?

• If you test how different amounts of fertilizer affect plant size,

What is a response variable?

• This is the latter variable, which is the response variable 

  • The main outcome or result that you measure in an experiment or study to see if it changes.

What are examples of RV?

The fertilizer is what you change, and the height of the plant is the response variable.

What is data?

• Is the information such as facts and numbers used to analyze something or make decisions, and STATISTICS IS ALL ABOUT DATA

  • Collecting DATA 

  • Describing DATA - summarizing and visualizing 

  • Analyzing DATA

• EVERYBODY uses DATA in their lives, whether it be formally in your job or 

casually in conversation

What is an identifier?

Something used to identify the group of people used in the data