Definition of Statistics

ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF STATISTICS:
In 18th century German scholar Gotifried Achenwall used the word Statistik for the first time.
The word Statistics has either been derived from the Latin word “Status” or Italian word “Statstica” or
German word “Statistik”.
Meaning of each word is “an organized political state”.
 Data:
The collection of numerical raw facts and figures is called data.
 Datum:
A single numerical fact is called datum.
DEFINITIONS OF STATISTICS:
“It is the mathematical science of making decisions and drawing conclusions from data in situation of
uncertainty.”
Definition by Croxton and Cowden:
According to Croxton and Cowden statistics may be defined as
“Statistics is the science of collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of numerical data.”
The definition points out the four stages:
1. Collection of data.
2. Presentation of data.
3. Analysis of data.
4. Interpretation of data.
1. Collection of Data: It is the first step and this is the foundationupon which the entire data set. Careful
planning is essential before collecting the data.
2. Presentation of data: The mass data collected should bepresented in a suitable, concise form for further
analysis.
3. Analysis of data: The data presented should be carefullyanalyzed for making inference from the presented
data.
4. Interpretation of data: The final step is drawing a valid conclusionfrom the data collected.
 Population:
The total group under discussion having some common characteristic of interest is called population/universe.
Or
A population consists of the totality of the observations with which we are concern.
 Sample:
A sample is an observed subset of population values.
Or
A sample is a representative part of population.
 Parameter:
Any numerical value calculated from population when entire population is available called parameter.
Parameters are constants and are usually unknown. Parameters are denoted by Greek letters.
Example: Population mean denoted by μ, Population variance denoted by σ2
 Statistic:
Any numerical value calculated from sample is called statistic.
Statistic varies from sample to sample so it is variable.
Example: Sample Mean denoted by𝑋̅, Sample Variance denoted by S2 etc.
Ratio:
The ratio is a fraction. The ratio of A to B is A/B.
Example: in a class there are 150 male students and 200 female students. So, the female and male student’s ratio is
200/150.
Proportion:
The specific ratio of a part to its total is called proportion.
Example: In a class there are total 350 students from which 150 are male and 200 are female. So, the female proportion
is 200/350 and male proportion is 150/350.
Experiment:
Any study in which the scientist can control the allocation of treatments to the experimental units is called an
experiment.
Sample Survey:
A survey is sampling of facts or opinion on the basis of selection that is used to estimate how an entire group
would respond.
Constant:
Quantities which don’t vary from individual to individual are called constant.
Example: π≈3.14159, e≈2.71828, 8, 3 etc.
MEANINGS OF STATISTICS:
Senses of Statistics (Meaning of Statistics)
The word Statistics is used in three senses nowadays i.e.
(i) Plural Sense
(ii) Singular Sense
(iii) Plural of the word “Statistic”
Plural Sense:
In plural sense
Statistics is described as numerical observations collected for specific purpose in a systematic manner.
Or
Statistics means numerical facts collected in any field of study by using a statistical method.
Example: The observations about the worker’s wages are called statistics of wages.
The observations are also called “data” and the word “data” is used to refer statistics in plural sense.
Singular Sense:
In singular sense
Statistics is a science which deals with the techniques to obtain, present, analyze and interpret the numerical data which
is known as statistical methods.
(Statistical Methods: These are the techniques which are used to obtain, present analyze and interpret the numerical
data.)
Statistics is a body of methods used in collection, presentation, analysis & interpretation of data.
Plural of the word Statistic:
Statistics is used as the plural of the word statistics which means a numerical quantity calculated from sample
observations.
Example: Sample Mean (𝑋̅), Sample Variance (S2) etc.
Divisions of Statistics:

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ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF STATISTICS:

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