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Assignment 1

1. What is statistics?

Statistics is the science of collecting and analyzing numerical data for the purposes of making inferences and drawing conclusions.

2. Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics.

Descriptive: used to classify and summarize numerical data

Inferential: used for making generalizations about a population by studying a sample

3. List and define the four elements of a descriptive statistics problems

-The population or sample of interest

-One or more variables (characteristics of the population or sample units) that are to be investigated

-Tables, graphs, or numerical summary tools

-Identification of patterns in the data

4. List and define the five elements of an inferential statistics problems.

-The population of interest

-One or more variables

-The sample of population units

-The inference about the population based on information contained in the sample

-A measure of reliability for the inference

5. List the four methods of collecting data.

-Published source

-Data from a designed experiment

-Data from a survey

-Data collected observationally

6. Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative data.

Quantitative data are measurements that are recorded on a naturally occurring numerical scale.

Qualitative data are measurements that cannot be measured on a natural numerical scale; they can only be classified into one of a group of categories.

7. Explain how population and variables differ.

A population is a set of units of interest to a study. A variable is a characteristic or property of the units being studied

8. Explain how population and samples differ.

A population is a set of units of interest to a study. A sample is a subset of a population

9. Define statistical thinking.

Statistical thinking involves applying rational thought and the science of statistics to critically assess data and...