Notes for Statistics Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION TO

Statistics

1.1 WHAT IS STATISTICS? |

* The word statistics is derived from classical Latin root, status which means state.

* Statistics has become the universal language of the sciences.

* As potential users of statistics, we need to master both the “science” and the “art” of using statistical methodology correctly.

* Carefully defining the situation

* Gathering data

* Accurately summarizing the data

* Deriving and communicating meaningful conclusions

Specific definition:

Statistics is a collection of procedures and principles for gathering data and analyzing information to help people make decisions when faced with uncertainty.

* Nowadays statistics is used in almost all fields of human effort such as:

Example applications of Statistics

Education Agricultural Businesses Health

* Sports

A statistician may keep records of the number of hits a baseball player gets in a season.

* Financial

Financial advisor uses some statistical information to make reliable predictions in investment.

* Public Health

An administrator would be concerned with the number of residents who contract a new strain of flu virus during a certain year.

* Others

Any Idea?…..

1.2 TWO ASPECTS IN STATISTICS |

Statistics has two aspects:

1. Theoretical / Mathematical Statistics

* Deals with the development, derivation and proof of statistical theorems, formulas, rules and laws.

2. Applied Statistics

* Involves the applications of those theorems, formulas, rules and laws to solve real world problems.

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

Descriptive statistics | | Inferential statistics |

* What most people think of...