ECON1203: Statistics

techniques I

Chapter 2: Graphical descriptive

ECON1203: Statistics
Chapter 2: Graphical descriptive
techniques I
1. Variable
A variable is some characteristic of a population or sample (e.g. the mark on a
statistics exam). They are usually represented using uppercase letters (e.g. X, Y,
Z).

2. Values
The values of the variable are the possible observations of the variables (e.g.
between 0 and 100).

-level data to be treated as lower-level data (although information is lost,) but not vice versa.

3. Data
Data are the observed values of a variable (e.g. the marks of 3 students were
64, 74 and 71).
There are three types of data:
1. Interval data real numbers (e.g. between 0 and 100)

All calculations are valid (e.g. average).

2. Ordinal data there is a meaningful order of values (e.g. poor, fair, good,
excellent)

Calculations based on an ordering process are valid (e.g. median).

3. Nominal data categories (e.g. single, married, divorced, widowed)

Numerical values are arbitrary (e.g. single = 1, married = 2).
Only calculations based on frequencies or percentages of
occurrences are valid.

4. Describing a set of nominal data

Univariate techniques apply to a single set of data.

A frequency distribution is a table that presents the categories and

their counts.

ECON1203: Statistics
techniques I

Chapter 2: Graphical descriptive

A relative frequency distribution lists the categories and the proportion

with which each occurs.
A bar chart is often used to display frequencies.
A pie chart graphically shows relative frequencies.

5. Describing the relationship between two

nominal variables and comparing two or more
nominal data sets
Biviariate techniques depict the relationship between variables.

A cross-classification table (or cross-tabulation table) describes the

relationship between two nominal variables. It lists the frequency of each
combination of the values of the two variables.

Factors that identify when to use a cross-classification table

1. Objective: Describe the relationship between two variables and compare two
or more data sets.
2. Data type: Nominal