Data and Statistics

Population and Sample

Introduction of Sample and Census

Statistical
Analysis Statistics and Parameter

Independent and Dependent

Variables

Sampling Method

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Data and Statistics

Data consists of information coming from observations,

counts, measurements, or responses.

Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, analyzing,

and interpreting data in order to make decisions.

A population is the collection of all outcomes, responses,

measurement, or counts that are of interest.

A sample is a subset of a population.

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Populations and Samples

• Example:
• In a recent survey, 250 college students at Union College were asked
if they smoked cigarettes regularly. 35 of the students said yes.
Identify the population and the sample.

Responses of all students at

Union College (population)

Responses of students
in survey (sample)

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Populations and Samples
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 • The complete count of the
population is called a census.

• The observations on all the sampling

units in the population are collected
in the census.

Census • For example, in India, the census is

conducted at every tenth year in
which observations on all the
persons staying in India is collected.

• A census is a 100% sample, and it is a

complete count of the population.

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 Sample versus Census

 Why can’t we learn about a population by just taking a census (measure

every item in the population)?

 Takes too long, costs too much, measuring destroys the item. So, we often rely on
a special type of statistical study called a sample survey, in which a subgroup of a
large population is questioned on a set of topics.

 Sample surveys are often used to estimate the proportion or percentage

of people who have a certain trait or opinion.

 If you use proper methods to sample 1500 people from a population of

many millions, you can almost certainly gauge the percentage of the
entire population who have a certain trait or opinion to within 3%. The
tricky part is that you have to use a proper sampling method.

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 A parameter is a number
that describes some
aspect of a population.

Statistic and A statistic is a number that

is computed from data in a
Parameter sample.

We usually have a sample

statistic and want to use it
to make inferences about
the population parameter

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 Statistics and Parameters

A parameter is a numerical description of a population

characteristic.

A statistic is a numerical description of a sample

characteristic.

Parameter Population

Statistic Sample

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 The Big Picture

Population Sampling
PARAMETER
S
Sample
STATISTICS
Statistical
Inference
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Parameter versus Statistic

mu x-
bar
p-
hat
sigma

rho

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 Parameters & Statistics

• Example:
• Decide whether the numerical value describes a
population parameter or a sample statistic.
a.) A recent survey of a sample of 450 college students
reported that the average weekly income for students
is $325.
Because the average of $325 is based on a sample,
this is a sample statistic.
b.) The average weekly income for all students is $405.
Because the average of $405 is based on a population,
this is a population parameter.
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 Election Polls

• Over the weekend (9/7/12 – 9/9/12), 1000 registered voters were asked
who they plan to vote for in the 2012 presidential election

• What proportion of voters plan to vote for Obama?

p=
???
http://www.politico.com/p/2012-election/polls/president
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Point Estimate

We use the statistic from a sample as a

point estimate for a population
parameter.

• Point estimates will not match population parameters

exactly, but they are our best guess, given the data
 Election
Polls

Actually, several polls

were conducted over
the weekend (9/7/12
– 9/9/12):

http://www.politico.com/p/2012-election/polls/president
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 • Sample statistics vary from
sample to sample. (they will not
match the parameter exactly)

• KEY QUESTION: For a given

IMPORTANT sample statistic, what are plausible
values for the population
POINTS parameter? How much
uncertainty surrounds the sample
statistic?

• KEY ANSWER: It depends on

how much the statistic varies from
sample to sample!

Dr Vijendra Singh