STAT 110: Chapter 1 - Where Do Data Come From?

Vocabulary flashcards covering key statistical terms, types of statistics, study designs, and population vs. sample concepts from Chapter 1.

Statistics

The science of data that involves collecting, analyzing, presenting, and interpreting data, as well as making decisions in the face of variability and uncertainty.

Descriptive statistics

Methods consisting of organizing, displaying, and describing data by using tables, graphs, and summary measures.

Inferential statistics

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

Individuals

The objects or units described by a set of data, which may be people, animals, plants, or things.

Variable

Any single characteristic of an individual that can take different values for different individuals.

Data

Measurements or values taken by a variable for different individuals.

Categorical variable

A variable that places an individual into one or several groups or categories.

Quantitative variable

A variable that takes numerical values for which arithmetic operations such as adding and averaging make sense.

Response variable

A variable that measures the major outcome or result of a study.

Statistical inference

The process of making conclusions or comments about a population based on data collected from a sample.

Observational study

A study that observes individuals and measures variables of interest but does not intervene to influence the responses.

Experiment

A study in which the researcher intentionally applies treatments to subjects and then measures a response variable to determine how the treatment affects the response.

Population

All elements, individuals, items, or objects whose characteristics are being studied in a statistical study (also called the target population).

Sample

The part or subset of the population containing the individuals that are actually observed.

Sample survey

A study in which data are collected from a selected part, or sample, of the entire population.

Census

A special survey that attempts to collect data from every single member of the population.

Decennial Census

A census of the American population empowered by the United States Constitution, which started in 1790 and has occurred every 10 years since.