A Statisitic: Summary measure of sample Data

Statistics can be divided into two areas: Descriptive and Inferential

Raw Data: Term used for numbers and your categories for labels that have been collected, but
have not been processed in any way. Ex: How many hours did you sleep last night. Raw data=

Population: The entire pool from a statistical sample is drawn. Ex: Jackson State University
Students

Parameter: summary measure of the population data

Sample Data: Data collected from a subset of a larger population Ex. All males at JSU

Variable: Characteristics that may differ among individuals Ex. Height, Weight, Age etc.

Types of Variables

A. Categorical: Raw data that consists of groups or categories that do not have any logical
ordering. Ex. Eye color, In favor, opposed to, regular church attendance

B. Ordinal: May be used to describe data when a categorical variable has ordered
categories. Ex: Rate you’re driving in comparison to others, what is your self-esteem
level.

C. Quantitative: Raw data are either numerical measurements or counts collected from
each individual. EX. Height, weight, Classes attended during semester.

Difference:

Categorical: Safe/Unsafe

Ordinal: 1=safe 2=unsafe

Quantitative: Reported # highest votes for best city to live in.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS:

1. What type of variable is the below: Categorical, Ordinal, Quantitative??

What percentage of college students favor the legalization of marijuana?? Answer:

CATEGORICAL Are they likely to favor or not favor.
 2. What is the average body temperature for adults, and how much variability is there in
body temperature measurements?

QUANTITATIVE Answer: Body temperature is a quantitative variable. To summarize one

quantitative variable, we typically ask about summary measures such as the average or the
range of Values.

3. Do men and women drive at the same fastest speed on average?

Answer: One categorical and One quantitative

This example considers how a quantitative variable (fastest speed ever driven) is related to a
categorical value (sex). A general question about this type of situation is whether the
quantitative measurements are similar across categories or whether they differ.

4. A company wishes to measure consumer satisfaction with their microwave ovens to

determine their level of satisfaction.
Answer: Ordinal. The company wishes to know are consumers satisfied or not.

Operationalizing means that you are setting your own definition.