Dr.

Fadi Alrimawi Lecture 1

What is Statistics?
Statistics is the science of conducting studies to collect, organize,
summarize, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.

Why students study Statistics?

1- To be able to read and understand the various statistical studies
performed in your field.
2- To conduct research in your field, since statistical procedures are
basic to research.
3- You can use the knowledge gained from studying statistics to
become better consumers and citizens.

Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

* To gain knowledge about seemingly haphazard situations, statistics
collect information for variables, which describe the situations.

What is the definition of the variable?

A variable is a characteristic or attribute that can assume different
values.

* Data are the values ( measurements or observations ) that the

variables can assume.

* Variables whose values are determined by chance are called random

variables.

* A collection of data values forms a data set. Each value in the data set
is called a data value or a datum.

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Statistics divided into two main areas, depending on how data are
used. The two areas are :

1- Descriptive statistics : which consists of the collection,

organization, summarization, and presentation of datd. In
descriptive statistics the statistician tries to describe the situation.
It depends on the data of the population of the study
2- Inferential statistics: which consists of generalizing from samples
to populations, performing estimations and hypothesis tests,
determining relationships among variables, and making
predictions . Here the statistician tries to make inferences from
samples to populations. Inferential statistics uses probability.

* A population consists of all subjects (human or otherwise) that are

being studied.

* A sample is a group of subjects selected from population.

* It is very hard to use the entire population for a statistical study;

therefore, researchers use samples.

* One of the most important areas of the inferential statistics is called

hypothesis testing, which is a decision-making process for evaluating
claims about a population , based on information obtained from
samples.

Variables and Types of Data

Variables can be classified as :
1- Qualitative variables: variables that can be placed into distinct
categories, according to some characteristic or attribute. (ex: male
or female, religions, …etc.).
2- Quantitative variables: numerical variables which can be ordered
or ranked. ( ex: heights, weights, temperatures, … etc.).

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Dr. Fadi Alrimawi Lecture 1

Also quantitative variables can be classified into two groups:

1- Discrete variables assume values that can be counted ( ex:
number of children, number of students in a classroom, … etc.).
2- Continues variables can assume an infinite number of values
between any two specific values. They can obtained by measuring.
They often include fractions and decimals (ex: heights, weights,
temperatures, … etc.).

* Since continues data must be measured, answers must be rounded

because of the limits of the measuring device. Usually, answers are
rounded to the nearest given unit. We can solve this problem by giving
boundaries of this continuous variable.

* The boundaries of a continuous variable are given in one additional

decimal place and always end with the digit 5.

Variable Recorded value Boundaries

Length 15 cm 14.5-15.5 cm
o
Temperature 86 F 85.5-86.5 oF
Time 0.43 sec 0.425-0.435 sec
Mass 1.6 g 1.55-1.65 g
* For the Mass 1.6 g the boundaries are 1.55-1.65 g which means all the
values from 1.55 up to 1.65 ( i.e. the value 1.65 not included ).

* In addition to being classified as qualitative or quantitative, variables

can be classified by how they are categorized, counted or measured.
This type of classification divides into four types:

1- Nominal: the nominal level of measurements classifies data into

mutually exclusive categories in which no order or ranking can be
imposed on the data.
2- Ordinal: the ordinal level of measurements classifies data into
categories that can be ranked; however, precise differences
between the ranks do not exist.
3- Interval: the interval level of measurements ranks data, and
precise differences between units of measures do exist; however,
there is no meaningful zero.

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Dr. Fadi Alrimawi Lecture 1

4- Ratio: the ratio level of measurements possesses all the

characteristics of interval measurements, and there exists a zero.
In addition, true ratios exist when the same variable is measured
on two different members of the population.
Examples of Measurements Scales
Nominal-level datd Ordinal-level data Interval-level data Ratio-level data
Gender(male,female) Grade (A,B,C,D) SAT score Height
Eye color (blue, Judging (first place, IQ Weight
brown, … etc.) second place, …etc.)
Political affiliation Rating scale Temperature Salary
(excellent , good,
poor, … etc.)
Nationality Ranking of tennis
players

Sampling Methods
* To obtain samples that are unbiased , i.e. that give each subject in the
population an equally likely chance of being selected, statisticians use
four basic methods of sampling:

1- Random sampling: subjects are selected by random numbers

2- Systematic sampling: subjects are selected by using every kth
number after the first subject is randomly selected from 1 through
k.
3- Stratified sampling: subjects are selected by dividing up the
population into groups, and subjects are randomly selected within
groups.
4- Cluster sampling: subjects are selected by using an intact group
that is representative of the population.

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Dr. Fadi Alrimawi Lecture 1

Observational and Experimental Studies

1- Observational studies: in observational study the researcher
merely observes what is happening or what has happened in the
past and tries to draw conclusions based on these observations.
2- Experimental studies: in experimental study the researcher
manipulates one of the variables and tries to determine how the
manipulation influences other variables.

Advantage Disadvantage
Observational *It usually occurs in a *They can be
natural setting. expensive and time-
*It can be done in consuming
situations where it *The variables are not
would be unethical or controlled by the
downright dangerous researcher ( other
to conduct an factors may have had
experiment. an effect on the
results).
Experimental *The researcher can *They may occur in
decide how to select unnatural settings,
subjects and how to such as laboratories
assign them to specific and special
groups. classrooms.
*The researcher can *The subjects who
control or manipulate knew they were
the independent participating in an
variable. experiment may
change their behavior
in ways that affected
the results
(Hawthorne effect).

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