Statistics: Introduction

Statistics consists of Collection of methods for planning experiments, obtaining data, and then organizing, summarizing, presenting, analyzing, interpreting, and drawing conclusions. Variable is a characteristic or attribute that can assume different values Random Variable is variate whose values are determined by chance. Population consists of all subjects possessing a common characteristic that is being studied. Sample is a subgroup or subset of the population representing the whole population. Parameter is a characteristic or measure obtained using population values. Statistic(not to be confused with Statistics) is a characteristic or measure obtained from a sample. Descriptive Statistics comprise of collection, organization, summarization, and presentation of data. Inferential Statistics is way of generalizing from samples to populations using probabilities by performing hypothesis testing, determining relationships between variables, and making predictions. Qualitative Variables are variates which assume non-numerical values. Quantitative Variables are variates which assume numerical values. Discrete Variables are variates which assume a finite or countable number of possible values. Thses are usually obtained by counting. Continuous Variables are variates which assume an infinite number of possible values. These are usually obtained by measurement. Levels of Measurement: summary There are four levels of measurement: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio. These go from lowest level to highest level. Data is classified according to the highest level which it fits. Each additional level adds something the previous level didn't have. 1. Nominal is the lowest level. Only names are meaningful here. 2. Ordinal adds an order to the names. 3. Interval adds meaningful differences 4. Ratio adds a zero so that ratios are meaningful. Nominal Level is a level of measurement which classifies data into mutually exclusive, all inclusive categories in which no order or ranking can be imposed on the data. Ordinal Level is a level of measurement which classifies data into categories that can be ranked. Differences between the ranks do not exist. Interval Level is a level of measurement which classifies data that can be ranked and differences are meaningful. However, there is no meaningful zero, so ratios are meaningless. Ratio Level is a level of measurement which classifies data that can be ranked, differences are meaningful, and there is a true zero. True ratios exist between the different units of measure. Sources of Statistical data in Pakistan 1-Census reports of Pakistan Census Organization 2- Census reports of Pakistan Agriculture Census Organization 3- Publications of Federal and Provincial Bureaus of Statistics 4- Pakistan Economic Survey 5- Publications of State Bank of Pakistan. 6- Publications all data generating departments of the govt. like WAPDA on water and power, PTA on telecommunications, APCOM on agricultural prices, etc. 7- government publications, statistical reports, journal and news paper, census reports, and report on national sample surveys conducted in Pakistan etc. Classification of data: Data collected either from primary sources or the secondary sources are called raw data. Classification means arrangement of data or grouping of data according to their behavior, nature and characteristics. Types of classification: Statistical data may be classified according to different characteristics. There are four important types of classifications. i) Geographical (spatial) classification: Classification of data according to geographical areas is called Geographical (spatial) classification. Ex: Province wise classification of production of food grains in Pakistan: ii) Chronological classification: In this type of classification the data are classified according to different time periods. Ex: Population of Pakistan for different time periods. Profits of a business establishment over different years. (iii) Quantitative classification: In quantitative classification the data are classified according to some characteristics that can be measured numerically such as height, weight, production, income, marks secured by the students etc. Ex: Students of a college may be classified according to there weights as given in the table (iv) Qualitative classification: In qualitative classification the data are classified on the basis of attributes or quality such as sex, colour of hair, literacy, religion etc. Total population

Literate

Illiterate

Hindu

Muslim

Christian

Hindu

Muslim

Christian