ASSIGNMENT – 2025
[Link] – SEM-1
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
Q.1 What is data? Give different types of data and explain them.
Meaning of Data:
Data refers to raw facts, figures, or observations collected from different sources for analysis. Data
itself has no meaning until it is processed and interpreted. Example: marks of students, temperature
records, sales figures.
Importance of Data in Statistics:
• Foundation of statistics.
• Helps in understanding, decision-making, and forecasting.
Types of Data:
(A) Based on Nature of Variables:
1. Qualitative Data – descriptive, not numerical (e.g., gender, color).
2. Quantitative Data – numerical (e.g., age, income, marks).
(B) Based on Measurement Scale:
1. Nominal – categories without order (e.g., nationality, religion).
2. Ordinal – categories with order (e.g., rank in class).
3. Interval – equal intervals but no true zero (e.g., temperature in Celsius).
4. Ratio – interval data with true zero (e.g., age, income, weight).
(C) Based on Continuity:
1. Discrete – whole numbers (e.g., number of students).
2. Continuous – any value in range (e.g., height, time).
(D) Based on Source:
1. Primary Data – collected first-hand (e.g., surveys, experiments).
2. Secondary Data – already collected by others (e.g., census reports).
Conclusion:
Data is the foundation of statistics. Classification of data helps in proper analysis and interpretation.
Q.2 Give characteristics of good average. Give relationship between Mean, Median and
Mode. Give relationship between Arithmetic Mean, Geometric Mean and Harmonic Mean.
Characteristics of a Good Average:
1. Easy to understand and simple to calculate.
2. Based on all observations of the dataset.
3. Not affected by extreme values (robustness).
4. Capable of further algebraic treatment.
5. Should be least affected by sampling fluctuations.
Measures of Central Tendency:
1. Arithmetic Mean (A.M.) – sum of observations / number of observations.
2. Median – middle value when data is arranged in order.
3. Mode – most frequently occurring value.
Relationship between Mean, Median and Mode:
In a moderately skewed distribution:
Mode = 3 × Median – 2 × Mean
Relationship between A.M., G.M., and H.M.:
For positive numbers:
A.M. ≥ G.M. ≥ H.M.
Equality holds only when all numbers are equal.
Conclusion:
Good averages represent data meaningfully. Understanding the relationships between different
averages is important for choosing the correct measure in statistical analysis.
Q.3 What is measure of dispersion? Give comparison between absolute and relative
measures of dispersion.
Meaning of Dispersion:
Dispersion refers to the degree of spread of data values around a central tendency. It indicates the
variability or consistency of the dataset.
Common Measures of Dispersion:
1. Range – difference between highest and lowest values.
2. Quartile Deviation – half the difference between Q3 and Q1.
3. Mean Deviation – average of deviations from mean/median.
4. Variance and Standard Deviation – square of deviations and its square root.
Types of Measures:
1. Absolute Measures of Dispersion – expressed in same units as data (e.g., range, variance, S.D.).
2. Relative Measures of Dispersion – expressed as ratios/percentages, unit-free (e.g., coefficient of
variation).
Comparison:
• Absolute measures show actual variability but cannot compare datasets of different units.
• Relative measures allow comparison between two or more datasets irrespective of units.
Conclusion:
Dispersion helps in understanding stability and reliability of averages. Relative measures are
especially useful in comparing variability across different series.
Q.4 What is correlation? Discuss the method of Spearman’s rank correlation. Give its uses.
Define regression coefficient and state their properties.
Meaning of Correlation:
Correlation measures the degree and direction of relationship between two variables. It can be
positive, negative, or zero.
Spearman’s Rank Correlation Method:
• Non-parametric method based on ranks, suitable for qualitative and ordinal data.
• Formula: ρ = 1 – (6 Σd²) / [n(n² – 1)], where d = difference between ranks, n = number of pairs.
• Value of ρ lies between –1 and +1.
Uses of Spearman’s Correlation:
1. Useful when data is in ranks (e.g., competition results).
2. Can handle small samples and ordinal data.
3. Easier to compute than Pearson’s correlation when distribution is not normal.
Regression Coefficient:
• Regression coefficients measure the average change in dependent variable for a unit change in
independent variable.
• Two coefficients: bxy (effect of x on y) and byx (effect of y on x).
Properties of Regression Coefficients:
1. Both regression coefficients have the same sign.
2. Their geometric mean is equal to correlation coefficient (r² = bxy × byx).
3. If one coefficient is greater than 1, the other must be less than 1.
4. They are independent of change in origin but affected by change in scale.
Conclusion:
Correlation and regression are powerful tools for studying relationships between variables.
Spearman’s method is useful for ordinal data, while regression coefficients help in prediction and
analysis.
