Introduction of Statistics

Introduction of Statistics
Definition of Statistics:
From the first meaning of Statistics it may be mentioned that Statistics is the mirror by which
one can look at all aspects of a nation. It also indicates that simple or isolated items cannot be
termed as Statistics unless these are a part of aggregate of facts relating to any particular field of
inquiry. The aggregate of facts is a part of applied mathematics. According to R.A. “Fisher
Statistics is the branch of applied mathematics, where the mathematics is used to aggregate the
collected data.”

In other word Statistics is the science of collecting, presenting, analyzing and interpreting data to
assist in making more effecting decision.

Example: life expectancy of Bangladesh is 72.

There are two types of Statistics:

1. Descriptive Statistics.
2. Inferential Statistics.

Descriptive Statistics:

A data set in its original form is usually very large. Consequently, such a data set is not very
helpful in drawing conclusions or making decision. It is easier to draw conclusions from
summary tables and diagrams than from the original version of a data set. So, we reduce data to a
manageable size by constructing tables, drawing graphs, or calculating summary measures such
as averages. Descriptive Statistics involve graphical and numerical procedures that are used to
summarize and process data and to transform data into information.

Example: A study found that 49% of the people in a survey knew the name of the first book of
the Bible. The Statistic 49 describes the number out of every 100 persons who knew the answer.

Inferential Statistics:
Inferential Statistics are used to make inferences about a population from a sample in order to
generalize (make assumptions about this wider population) and/or make prediction about the
future. Inferential Statistics provided the bases for prediction, forecasts and estimates that are
used to transform information into knowledge.

Examples: we may make some decisions about the political views of all college and university
students based on the political views of 1000 students selected from a few colleges and
universities.

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Importance of Statistics:

 Statistics are invaluable in business and commerce.

 Statistics helps the planner to estimate the revenue income revenue expenditure of
the country for the ensuring year.
 Statistical studies help the industrialist to enlarge its establishment efficiently and
economically.
 Statistics is used in demography and medical sciences.

Uses of Statistics:
 It presents facts in a definite form.
 It facilitates comparison.
 It helps in formulating and testing hypothesis.
 It helps in prediction.
 It helps in the formulation of suitable policies.

How Statistics used in Computer science Engineering:

Statistics is important for all branches of science, because it is incredibly helpful in decision
making and testing the accuracy of the decisions at the end.

In computer science and machine learning, the efficiency of algorithms can be significantly
increased by using statistics. You can decrease the cost of the processing significantly by using
statistics.

Without understanding statistics, it is not possible to understand the logic behind algorithms and
to develop them.

Human brain makes decisions based on data that it gets from its surroundings via sensors and it
uses statistics and data to come a conclusion for an action. Your brain uses statistics even if you
are not aware of this process at every instant of your life.

Limitations of Statistics:

 Statistics does not deal with qualitative phenomenon. However qualitative

phenomenon can be analyzed if it is expressed numerically or if it is scored after
assigning the appropriate number.
 Statistics deals with population and Statistical methods deal with a mass of data
and not with a single figure.
 Statistics can be misused. The data placed in the hands of an inexpert may lead to
be compiled inaccurately and interpreted unscientifically.
 Statistical laws are not exact all inferences are drawn with a certain level of
accuracy based on probability.

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 Statistics cannot prove anything. It plays an auxiliary role to summaries a fact.

Statistics results are true only on an average.

Some definition:
Population: A Population is a collection of all possible individuals, objects or measurements of
interest.

Sample: A sample is a representative part of the population.

Parameter: A Parameter is a measurable characteristic of a population.

Statistic: A Statistic is a measurable characteristic of a sample.

Variable:

Any characteristics of a population which may vary from person to person or object to object
either in magnitude or in quality are called variables.

Examples:

1. The height of adult males.

2. Gender of a person (Male / Female).

Variable

Qualitative or Categorical Variable Quantitative Variable

Discrete Variable Continuous Variable

Qualitative or Categorical Variable:

A variable that cannot assume a numerical value but can be classified into different categories
are called qualitative or categorical variables.

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Examples:

 Brand of PC
 Marital Status
 Hair color.
 Eye color.

Quantitative Variables:

The characteristics of an unit or item that are expressed in numerical form or in numbers are
called quantitative variables.

Examples:

 Height of a person.
 Weight of a person.
 Family size.
 No. of accident in one day etc.

Discrete Variable: A quantitative variable which possesses isolated or integral value is called
discrete variable.

Examples:

 No. of children in a family.

 Strokes on a golf club.

Continuous Variable: A quantitative variable which takes values within a range or limit is
called continuous variable.

Examples:

 Height of a person.
 Weight of a person.

Difference between qualitative and quantitative Variable:

Qualitative Variable Quantitative Variable

The qualitative variable measures the The quantitative variable measures the
qualitative characteristics. quantitative characteristics.

The frequency distribution of a qualitative The frequency distribution of a quantitative

variable is discrete. variable may be either discrete or continuous.

For qualitative variable only the median and We can calculate all the measures of central
mode can be calculated. tendency for quantitative variable.

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The qualitative variable classified according to The quantitative variable classified according
quality or attribute. to numerical value

Level of Measurement:
Level of measurement or scale of measurement is a classification that describes the nature of
information within the numbers assigned to variables. There are actually four different levels of
measurement.

i. Nominal Level of Measurement.

ii. Ordinal Level of Measurement.
iii. Interval Level of Measurement.
iv. Ratio Level of Measurement.

Nominal Level of Measurement:

The first level of measurement is nominal level of measurement. The variable of interest is
divided into categories or outcomes. And there is no natural order to the outcomes. Even when
the labels are numerically coded, the data categories have no logical order.

Examples:

 Gender
 Religion
 Eye color
 Marital status

Ordinal Level of Measurement:

This level of measurement depicts some order relationship between the numbers of items. And
there is natural order to the outcomes.

Examples:

 level of knowledge in Statistics (good, average, poor)

 Visit in the hospital (frequent, occasional, rare and never).

Interval Level of Measurement:

The interval level of measurement not only classifies and orders the measurements, but it also
specifies that the distances between each interval on the scale are equivalent along the scale from
low interval to high interval.

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Examples:

 Temperature.
 IQ test score.

Ratio Level of Measurement:

Meaningful point and ratio between values.

Examples:

 Number of patient seen.

 Distance to class.
 Height.
 Family size.

Data
Statistics always deals with information and information should be expressed in number if we
like to analyze it. Certain type of information that is expressed in numerical form can be termed
as data. Data is the collections of any number of related observations.

There are two types of Data:

1. Primary data.
2. Secondary data.

Primary data:
Primary data is the one, which is collected by the investigator himself for the purpose of a
specific inquiry or study. Such data is original in character and is generated by survey conducted
by individuals or research institution or any organization. The primary data can be collected by
the following methods:

 Direct personal interviews.

 Indirect oral interviews.
 Information from correspondents.
 Mailed questionnaire method.
 Schedules sent through enumeration

Secondary data:

Secondary data are those data which have been already collected and analyzed by some earlier
agency for its own use and later the same data are used by a different agency.

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Difference between primary data and secondary data:

Primary data Secondary data
The data which are obtain by direct The data which are already obtained by some
observations from the population or sample is other persons or organizations.
called primary data.
Primary data collected from original sources Secondary data collected from some
organizations, journals, newspaper etc.
It involves large expense in terms of time, It is relatively a less costly method.
energy and money.
Primary data is more reliable than secondary Secondary data is less reliable than primary
data. data.
Primary data is completely independent. Secondary data depend on the primary data.