CHAPTER 1

Data and Sampling

Lecture 1

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 Learning Objectives

In this lesson, you will learn:

▪ The definition of statistics

▪ Why we need to know about statistics
▪ The branches of statistics
▪ Key statistical terms

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1.1 Introduction
Definition of statistics:

Statistics: Is the science of conducting studies to

collect, organize, present (summarize),
analyze, and draw conclusions from data.

Collect Organize Present Analyze Draw

data data data data conclsions

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1.1 Introduction
Why we need to know about statistics?

▪ Statistics helps in simplifying complex data to simple, to make them

understandable.
▪ We can represent the things in their true form with the help of tables and
figures. Without a statistical study, our ideas would be vague and
indefinite.
▪ With help of statistics we can frame favorable and intelligent strategies
and policies.
▪ The statistics help in shaping future policies.
▪ Future is uncertain, but statistics help in all the phenomenon of the world
to make correct estimation by taking and analyzing the various data of the
part.

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Branches of Statistics:
▪ The two major branches (areas) of statistics are : descriptive
statistics and inferential statistics

Branches of Statistics

Descriptive statistics Inferential statistics

Consists of collecting, organizing Consists of generalizing from samples to
and summarizing data in a population, performing estimation and test of
meaningful way that makes it hypotheses, determining the relationship among
easy to be understood by an variables and making predictions.
interested reader. Inferential statistics uses probability, (the chance of
an event occurring).
Note :
The main difference between these branches is in inferential statistics the
results will be generalized to all population while in descriptive statistics the
result will remain limited to the sample or population that being study.

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Branches of Statistics:
Example 1.2-page 5

This statistic presents the social network penetration in Saudi Arabia. As of

third quarter of 2017, the most popular social network was mobile
messenger WhatsApp with a 71%penetration rate. During the same period,
75 % of the total population were active social media users.
Which branch of statistic is used in this study?

Solution Descriptive Statistics

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Branches of Statistics:
Examples 1.3 and 1.5 pages 6 &7

Which branch of statistics is used in these statements?

1) Based on Ibrahim's electric bill for last year he expects that he will be paying SAR
200 for each month in this year.
Inferential statistics
2) Last year’s total attendance at Long Run High School’s football games was 8235.
Descriptive statistics
3) According to 2030 Saudi Arabia vision the non-oil governmental revenue is expected
to be Increase from 163 billion SAR to 1 trillion SAR.
Inferential statistics
4) A researcher conducted a study concerning the phenomena of smoking among a
university’s students. The results have shown that 4% of the university students are
smoking and 3% of them are known as smokers before they entered the university.
Descriptive statistics

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Branches of Statistics:
Try it yourself 

Which branch of statistics is used in these statements?

(a) Generalizing sample to population in a meaningful way.

(b) The average life in China is 80 years.

(c) By 2040 at least 3.5 billion people will run short of water.

(d) The median household income for people aged 25–34 is $35,888

Solution(a) Inferential (b) Descriptive (c) Inferential (d) Descriptive

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics

Activities 
Activity 1, page 4
The general percentage of SSLS of one teacher of last semester was 74%.
Answer the following questions:
a- What is the branch of statistics in this study?
b- Could the result of the study be generalized to all IAU’ students, why?

Activity 2, page 8
A medical center is studying the relationship between smoking and lung cancer.
A group of smokers has been selected, their ages and duration of smoking and
number of cigarettes smoked per day, and the researcher concluded that there
is strong relation between smoking and lung cancer.
a- What is the branch of statistics in this study?
b- Could the result of the study be generalized , why?

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Key statistical terms:

▪ A variable: is a characteristic or attribute that can assume different

values.
▪ A random variable: is a variable which its values are determined by
chance.

▪ Data are the values (measurements or observations) that the variables

can assume.
▪ A collection of data is a data set, while each value in the data is called a
datum (data value).

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Key statistical terms:
▪ A population consists of all subjects (human or otherwise) that are being studied.

▪ A sample is a group of subjects selected from the population of interest.

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Key statistical terms:
▪ A parameter: Is a numerical measurement obtained by using population
data. [e.g. Population average (), Population standard deviation () ].
▪ A statistic: Is a numerical measurement obtained by using the sample
data. [e.g. Sample average ( ) , sample standard deviation (S)] ➔ They are
used to estimate the population parameters.
Population/ parameter vs. sample /statistic

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Key statistical terms:
Example 

Identify each of the following data sets as either a population or a sample:

a. The grade point averages (GPAs) of all students at a college.

b. The GPAs of a randomly selected group of students on a college campus.

c. The gender of every second customer who enters a movie theater.

Solution
(a) Population
(b) Sample
(c) Sample

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Key statistical terms:
Example 1.8 page 9
A researcher is suspecting there is a relation between student’s absences and their
final grade, to check that, a group of students are selected from the science track’
and their scores and their number of absences have been reported. Answer the
following questions:
a. What are variables under study?
b. What are the population and the sample in this study?

Solution
a. The variables under study are students’ grades and absences.
b. The population under study is all students of science track, while the sample
is the selected group of students from the science’ track.

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1.2 Descriptive & inferential Statistics
Key statistical terms:
Try it yourself 

Decide whether the numerical value describes a parameter or a statistic:

a. A recent study of a sample of 150 students has shown that the average monthly
income for students is 500 riyals.
➔ Because the average of 500 riyals is based on a sample, this is a statistic.
b. The average monthly income for all students is 550 riyals.
➔ Because the average of 550 riyals is based on a population, this is a
parameter.

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data

▪ Variables can be classified into two main types: Qualitative

and quantitative variables.

Data

Qualitative Data Quantitative Data

Discrete Continuous

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data

▪ Qualitative variables: Are variables that can be placed into distinct

specific categories according to some attribute or characteristic.
(Nonnumeric).
Examples: Gender, nationality, job, students area of residence (Khobar,
Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, others), religion, nationality, eye color,
brand, occupation, , letter grades, type of car owned, marital status,
blood type, etc

▪ Quantitative variables: Are numerical and can be ordered or ranked.

Examples: Height, weights, age, salary, price, temperature, cost, , number of
students in a class, etc.

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Quantitative variables are classified into discrete and continuous:

▪ Discrete variables: Assume values that can be counted.

Examples: Number of students in a class, number of cars in parking and number of children
in a family, number of lumps that a factory can produce, number of bedrooms in a
house, etc.

▪ Continuous variables: Assume infinite number of values between any

two specific values. They are obtained by measuring. They often include
fraction and decimals values.
Examples: Air pressure, weight of a shipment of tomatoes, the temperature, height, length
of time to complete a mathematics homework assignment, blood pressure, etc.

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Boundaries:
Since the continuous variables are obtained by measurement using
different devices, there is always a variation in measurements instance;
weight can be measured by pound or kilograms, height can be measured in
centimeter or inch. Weight and height will not be exact when using different
machines due to the limit of the measuring device.

Variables Recorded value Boundaries

Height 176 cm 175.5 - 176.5
Time 0.36 second 0.355 - 0.365
Weight 77.5 kg 77.45 - 77.55
Age 30 years 29.5 - 30.5
Area 25 square meters 24.5 - 25.5
Speed 80km/h 79.5 - 80.5

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Examples 1.11& 1.12 page 15

Choose the correct answer:

a. The natural hair color of 20 randomly selected fashion models is what type of data?
a) qualitative b) continuous
c) interval d) discrete
b. The ages of 20 randomly selected fashion models are what type of data?
a) discrete b) quantitative
c) interval d) qualitative
c. The amount of gasoline put into a car at a gas station is what type of data?
a) quantitative b) nominal
c) interval d) qualitative

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data

d. The amount of time a student spent studying for an exam.

a) discrete b) quantitative
c) interval d) qualitative
e. The number of customers in the line waiting for service at a bank at a given time is
what type of data?
a) discrete b) continuous
c) interval d) qualitative

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data

Try it yourself 

1. The height of khalifa’s tower building is an example of……… data.

a) quantitative b) nominal
c) interval d) qualitative
2. Colors of baseball caps in a store are what type of data?
a) discrete b) continuous
c) interval d) qualitative
3. Time it takes to cut a lawn is what type of data?
a) discrete b) continuous
c) interval d) qualitative

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Boundaries:
Try it yourself 

a. What are the boundaries of 15.6 ounces?

a) 15–16 ounces b) 15.55–15.65 ounces
c) 15.5–15.7 ounces d) 10–29 ounces
b. What are the boundaries of 19.1 kg ?
a) 19.10–19.15 kg b) 19.5–19.15 kg
c) 19.05–19.15 kg d) 19.05–19.10 kg

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Levels of measurement of variables:

▪ Variables can be also classified by how they are categorized,

counted or measured.
▪ The four levels of measurement are: nominal, ordinal,
interval, and ratio.

Nominal
Levels of Lowest
Measurement
Ordinal to
highest
Interval
Ratio

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Levels of measurement of variables:

▪ The Nominal level of measurement: classifies data into mutually

exclusive and exhaustive categories in which no order or ranking can
be imposed on the data.
▪ No mathematical computations can be made at this level.
Examples:
Gender, marital status, zip codes, area of residence,
Scientific major field (statistics, mathematics, computers,
geography, etc).
▪ The Ordinal level of measurement: classifies data into mutually
exclusive exhausting categories that can be ranked however precise
difference between the ranks doesn’t exist.
Examples:
Students grades (A+, A, B+, B,..), rating scale (poor, good,
excellent), judging (first place, second place, etc.), ranking
of players , etc.

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Levels of measurement of variables:

▪ The Interval level of measurement: is a numeric ranked data where

precise difference exists however there is no meaningful of zero.
▪ No mathematical computations can be made at this level.
Examples: Tempurature, IQ, Calendar dates, etc.

▪ The Ratio level of measurement: is a numeric ranked data where

precise difference exists and there is a true zero.
Examples: weight, age, height, time, etc.

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Levels of measurement of variables:

Examples of levels of measurement

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio
Zip Code Student letter grades Temperature Age
Gamma ID Academic degree IQ test Weight
Religious affiliation Player ranking SAT Score Number of sales
Hair color Job degree Dress size Salary
Country dial code English’s Levels Shoe size Distance
International English
Blood types Service Quality rating Language Testing System Time
(IELTS)
Test of English as a
Foreign Language Weekly food
Nationality Military rank
spending
(TOEFL)
Scientific major field
Number of emails
(statistics, Position in a race Calendar dates
received in a week
mathematics, etc)

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Levels of measurements of variables:
Example 1.13 page 20
Choose the correct answer:
▪ Weights of selected cell phones. , is an example of the ---------------- level of
measurement.
a) nominal b) ordinal
c) interval d) ratio
▪ Categories of magazines in a physician’s office (sports, women’s, health, men’s,
news). is an example of the …………... level of measurement?
a) nominal b) ordinal
c) interval d) ratio
▪ Rankings of golfers in a is an example of the ---------------- level of measurement?
a) nominal b) ordinal
c) interval d) ratio

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Levels of measurements of variables:
▪ Temperatures inside 10 pizza ovens, is an example of the ----------------
level of measurement.
a) nominal b) ordinal
c) interval d) ratio

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1.3 Variables and Type of Data
Levels of measurements of variables:
Try it yourself 
▪ Blood pressures of runners in a marathon is what type of data?
a) discrete b) continuous
c) interval d) qualitative
▪ Types of cars in a university parking, is an example of the …………... level of
measurement?
a) nominal b) ordinal
c) interval d) ratio

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 Worksheet

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