7

Applications of
Descriptive Statistics

INTRODUCTION

This module will put into actual practice the descriptive statistics you have
learned from Module 1 to Module 6. You should not feel bad if you cannot answer
correctly all the exercises. Remember, this is an exercise where you apply all the
statistical concepts and knowledge you have so far studied.

Unlike the first seven modules, you will not find the answers to the exercises.
However, the sample of how the exercises were solved are given. You can follow the
flow of the topic because statistics is very logical course.

Take your time and please do all the exercises. Doing them will enhance your
knowledge and skills about statistics. Feel free to go over the first seven modules. The
key to appreciating statistics is a clear and understanding through regular study and
regarding of what statistics is all about.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module study, you will be able to use:

1. frequency distribution
2. measures of central tendency to your data
3. graphs, scatter grams, pie to data
4. normal distribution and study designs

1 | Unit I - D e s c r i p ti v e S t a ti s ti c s
 The following are test scores of 50 students. Construct a grouped frequency
distribution table for this data set. Your table should have the following components:
interval, exact limits, midpoints, f, %, cf, %.

73 74 74 80 71

65 76 93 74 80

80 65 95 84 75

85 92 75 76 85

71 85 84 94 72

90 97 95 75 90

76 82 86 89 76

89 70 55 59 88

82 86 99 95 73

SAQ 7 – 2
Represent the test scores of the 50 students graphically by creating a histogram and a
frequency polygon.

SAQ 7 – 3
You are a nurse manager of a large general hospital. You wish to investigate the presence of bed
sores or pressure sores among patients. You decided to arrange for nurse assessment of the
presence and severity of pressure sores of every patient in the hospital at some between 9 a.m.
and 6 p.m. on a specific day.

What is the population in this project?

What factors will make it difficult to assess every patient whom medical records report
occupying a bed on that particular day?

SAQ 7 – 4
2 | Unit I - D e sSAQ
c r i7p–ti4 v e S t a ti s ti c s
A research on the audit of pressure sores among older persons was conducted in a certain
tertiary hospital. The tool used for this research is the Waterlow Pressure Sore Risk Assessment
 Table 8-1. Waterlow Scores of 40 Patients

PATIEN GENDER AGE SUPPORT NO. OF WATERLO

T NO. GROUP SURFACE SCORES W SCORE

1 M 87-97 02 1 22

2 M 65-75 01 0 13

3 M 65-75 01 0 9

4 F 65-75 02 0 18

5 F 76-86 09 0 19

6 F 76-86 02 1 20

7 F 76-86 02 0 21

8 M 65-75 02 0 14

9 M 65-75 02 0 16

10 M 65-75 02 0 13

11 F 76-86 09 0 15

12 F 65-75 09 0 16

3 | Unit I - D e s c r i p ti v e S t a ti s ti c s
 13 F 76-86 09 0 9

14 F 76-86 09 0 15

15 F 87-97 03 4 27

16 F 65-75 02 0 25

17 F 87-97 03 1 23

18 F 65-75 09 4 31

19 F 65-75 01 1 16

20 F 65-75 01 0 9

21 F 87-97 03 2 24

22 F 76-86 01 0 11

23 F 65-75 03 0 11

24 F 65-75 03 1 14

25 F 65-75 01 0 6

26 F 76-86 03 2 14

27 F 65-75 01 3 23

28 F 65-75 01 0 16

29 F 65-75 01 2 17

30 F 65-75 01 0 12

31 F 65-75 01 0 10

32 F 65-75 01 0 14

33 F 76-86 03 0 18

34 F 65-75 01 0 15

35 M 65-75 03 1 17

36 F 65-75 01 0 11

37 F 65-75 03 0 12
4 | Unit I - D e s c r i p ti v e S t a ti s ti c s
 38 F 65-75 01 0 6

39 F 65-75 01 0 13

40 M 65-75 01 0 6

Questions:

1. Identify the measurement status of each variable (choice of nominal, ordinal, or

interval/ratio).
2. Construct a grouped frequency distribution table if possible, (with f and % as component)
for each variable
a. Gender
b. Age group
c. Support structure
d. Waterlow score
3. Comment on any broad patterns or features noticeable in each case.
4. Calculate the proportion of males and females with pressure sores.
5. What age range has more females? Males?
6. Display the four frequency distributions determined in question number 2 as (a) simple bar
graphs, (b) frequency polygon, (c) pie charts.
7. Comment on the usefulness of the graphs and charts.
8. Determine the ratio of males to females with pressure sores.

5 | Unit I - D e s c r i p ti v e S t a ti s ti c s