COURSE CODE : PAS 111

COURSE DESCRIPTION : Elementary Statistics

TARGET POPULATION : All 1st year BSBA/BPA Students
COURSE FACILITATOR : Angelus M. Sanchez

Week 1: Nature of Statistics

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:
1. Understand and analyze the basic concept of Statistics
2. Classify variables as discrete and continuous
3. Distinguish descriptive and inferential statistics

Statistics is the grammar of science.

-Karl Pearson (1857-1936)

Introduction

Statistics plays an important role in nearly all phases of our lives. It is used in agriculture,
biology and natural sciences, business and economics, electronics and computer sciences,
education, political science and sociology, and other fields of science and engineering.

We see numbers whenever we watch television or read the papers. For instance, these
numbers represents the score in a tennis match, the average starting salary of a high school
teacher, the increase or decrease of dengue cases in a hospital during the summer, the amount
of weight loss after adopting a special diet or regimen months, or the performance rate in the
licensure examination by a medical school. They are considered Statistics in the sense that they
are data used in an observation or measurement.

What is Statistics?

Statistics is a branch of Mathematics that examines and investigates way to process and
analyzed the data gathered. Statistics provides procedure in data collection. Presentation,
organization, and interpretation to have a meaningful idea that is useful to business decision-
makers.

Division of Statistics

 Descriptive Statistics- is the totality of methods and treatments employed in the

collection, description and analysis of numerical data. The purpose of a descriptive
statistics is to tell something about a particular group of observation.

 Inferential Statistics- is the logical process from sample to analysis to a

generalization or conclusion about a population. It is also called as Statistical
inference or inductive Statistics.

Note:
Descriptive statistics uses the data to provide descriptions of the population, either through
numerical calculations or graphs or tables. Inferential statistics makes inferences and
predictions about a population based on a sample of data taken from the population in question.

Population and Sample

Population consists of all the members of the group about which you want to draw a conclusion.
Sample is a portion, or a part of the population of interest selected for analysis.

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Sources of Data

 Primary Data- are data that come from an original source, and are intended to
answer a specific research questions. It can be taken by interview, mail in
questionnaires, survey or experimentations.
 Secondary Data- the data are taken from previously recorded data, such as
information in research conducted, industry financial statements, business
periodicals and government reports. It can also be taken electronically (e.g., via
internet websites, compact disk, etc.).

Constant and Variables

Constant- it is a characteristics of an objects, people or events that does not vary. (e.g.,
the temperature at which water boils is 100 degrees Celsius is a constant).
Variable- It is a characteristic of objects or people, or events that can take of different
values. It can vary in quantity (weight or height of people) or in quality (hair color of people).

Types of Data

 Qualitative Data- a variable that is conceptualized and analyzed as distinct

category with no continuum implied. It is also termed as Categorical variable. It
measures characteristics on each individual or object.
 Quantitative Data- a variable that that is conceptualized and analyzed along a
continuum implied. It is also termed as Numerical variable. It measures a
numerical amount on each individual or object.

Classifications of Variables
 Experimental classifications- a researcher may classify variables according to the
function they serve in experiment.
Independent Variable- is variables controlled by the experimenter/
researcher, and expected to have an effect on the behavior of the subjects.
It is also called as explanatory variables.
Dependent variable- is some measure of the behavior of the subjects and
is expected to be influenced by the independent variable. It is also called
as outcome variable.

 Mathematical Classifications- variables may also be classified in terms of the

mathematical values they may take on within a given interval.

Continuous Variable- is a variable which can assume any on an infinite

number if values, and can be associated with points on a continuous line
interval. (e.g., height, weight, volume etc. ).
Discrete Variable- is a variable in which consist of either a finite number
of values or countable number of values. (e.g., gender, courses, games
etc. ).

Levels of Measurement
 Nominal Level of Measurement- is mutually exclusive and exhaustive meaning
it is used to differentiate classes or categories for purely classification or
identification purposes.
 Ordinal Level of Measurement- it is used in ranking.
 Interval Level of Measurement- this level is used to classify order and
differentiate between classes categories in term of degrees of differences. Interval
data is either discrete or continuous variables.
 Ratio Level of Measurement-it differs from interval measurement only in one
aspects; it has true zero point (complete absence of the attitude being measured).

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Figure 1.: Illustrates the classification of numerical data.

Classifications of Numerical Data

Numerical Data

Qualitative Quantitative

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

Methods of Collecting Data

1. Direct or Interview Method Data is collected through the use of interviews. The
enumerator talks to the subject personally. He gets the data through a series of questions
asked from the subject of the interview.
2. Indirect or Questionnaire Method data is collected through the use of questionnaires.
These questionnaires may be sent through the postal or electronic mail.
3. Registration Method data are acquired from private and government agencies.
Ex. Birth certificates, Death certificates, and licenses
4. Observation Method data that are pertaining to behaviours of an individual or a group of
individuals at the time of occurrence of a given situation are best obtained by observation.
5. Experiment Method This is used to determine the cause and effect relationship of certain
phenomena under controlled conditions. This method usually employed by scientific
researchers.

Methods of Presenting Data

1. Textual Method Data and information are presented in paragraph and narrative form.
2. Tabular Method Quantitative data are summarized in rows and columns.
3. Graphical Method Data are presented in charts, graph or pictures.

Reference:
Sirug, W(2015). Basic Probability and Statistics.Mindshapers Co.
Montero-Galliguez, T. et.al (2016).Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis.C&E
Publishing, Inc.

End of first week

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