STATISTICS

SUNIL SHRESTHA
INTRODUCTION
 The subject of statistics, as it seems, is not a new
discipline but it is as old as the human civilization
itself.
 The word 'Statistics' has been derived from

Latin word - 'Status'

Italian word - 'Statista'

German word - 'Statistik'

French word - 'Statisque‘

All of these words mean the political status of a state.

The term statistics is used in two senses:

1. Singular
o statistics is the science of various measures,
o i.e. methods and techniques used in the collection,
presentation, analysis and interpretation of statistical data.

2. Plural
o refers to facts and figures,
o i.e., collection of numerical data, such as statistics of
population, school students, national income, export,
import, etc.
Definition of Statistics

In early stage, Statistics means:

‘Science of counting’ or ‘Science of averages’

– A.L. Bowley.

‘Statistics as the science of estimates and

probabilities’
– Boddington.
In modern time,
Statistics is defined as ‘the science of
 collection,
 classification,
 presentation,
 analysis and
 interpretation of data.’
- Croxton and Cowden.
The above definitions point out clearly that the following
broad aspects of statistics namely:
 Collection of data
Scientific methods, such as: laboratory experiment, field
experiment, survey, etc.
 Organization (classification) of data
Editing and classifying data in groups or classes
according to some criteria. It helps to condense huge
mass of data by eliminating irrelevant information.
 Presentation of data
Presenting the classified data in any one or more of the
form, such as table, diagram and graph.
 Analysis of data
Several statistical tools such as; averages, dispersion,
correlation, regression, etc are used to analysis of data.
Appropriate and suitable statistical tools are to be used
for analysis of data depending upon the nature of data.
 Interpretation of data
Interpretation of data means drawing an appropriate
conclusion about results obtained from the analysis of
data.
Subdivisions of Statistics
Statisticians have separated statistics into two broad categories on the basis of its
diversifying application, they are:
1. Descriptive statistic
o Descriptive statistics do not make a generalization with the computed
results.
o Graphs, charts, tables; that display data so that they are easier to understand
are all examples of descriptive statistics.
2. Inferential statistics
o Inferential statistics helps to generalize the results obtained.
o The process of estimating a value would be an example of inferential
statistics.
o The generalization may not be completely valid, so one must state how
likely it is to be true, i.e., the probability of their validity (confidence level).
Characteristics of Statistics
 Statistics are aggregate of facts
 Statistics must be numerically expressed
 Statistics should be collected for a pre-determined purpose
 Statistics should be collected on a systematic manner
 Statistics should be capable of being placed in relation to each
other
 Statistics are affected to a great extent by multiplicity of causes
 Statistics are enumerated or estimated according to reasonable
standards of accuracy
Function of Statistics
 Statistics simplifies complexity
 Statistics presents facts in a definite form
 Statistics helps in formulation of suitable policies
 Statistical facilities comparison
 Statistics helps in forecasting
 Statistics help in the formulation and testing of hypothesis
Limitation of Statistics

 Statistics does not deal with individual measurements

 Statistics deals only with quantitative characteristics
 Statistics results are true only on an average
 Statistical laws are not exact
 Statistics is liable to be misused