1. Chapter 1 Introduction to Statistics
1.1 An Overview of Statistics
1.2 Data Classification
1.3 Experimental Design
Larson/Farber 4th ed.
Larson/Farber 4th ed

2. An Overview of Statistics Classifying Data Critical Thinking
Section 1.1 and 1.2
An Overview of Statistics
Classifying Data
Critical Thinking
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

3. What is Statistics? Statistics
The science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data in order to make decisions.
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

4. Definitions Census Population Sample
The collection of all outcomes, responses, measurements, or counts that are of interest.
Sample
The collection of data from a subset of the population.
Census
The collection of data from every member of the population.

5. 2. HCC is doing a study on many hours a week a HCC student is working.
Example: Identify the population, and whether a census or sample would be done.
1. HCC is doing a study on how many credit hours a HCC student is taking.
2. HCC is doing a study on many hours a week a HCC student is working.
A fashion magazine gathers data on the price of women’s jeans.

6. What is Data? Data Data can be classified as one of 2 types:
The responses, counts, measurements, or observations that have been collected.
Data can be classified as one of 2 types:
1. Qualitative Data
2. Quantitative Data
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 6

7. Qualitative Data
Qualitative Data: Consists of non-numeric, categorical attributes or labels
Major
Place of birth
Eye color
Common statistic calculated: percentages

8. Quantitative Data Quantitative data: Numerical measurements or counts.
Weight of a letter
Temperature
Age
Common statistic calculated: averages
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 8

9. Quantitative Data: Discrete vs. Continuous
Discrete data: finite number of possible data values: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4….
ex: Number of classes a student is taking
Continuous data: infinite number of possible data values on a continuous scale
ex: Weight of a baby
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 9

11. Parameters and Statistics
A number that describes some characteristic of an entire population.
Average age of all people in the United States
Statistic
A number that describes some characteristic
from a sample.
Average age of people from a sample of three states

12. Ex: Parameters vs. Statistics
Decide whether the numerical value describes a population parameter or a sample statistic.
The average credit load of all HCC full-time students is 14.2 credit hours.
From a sample of 300 HCC full-time students showed the average work hours a week is 18.3 hours.
A gallup poll of 1012 adults nationwide showed 34% owned a handgun.

13. White House 2008: Republican Nomination
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Dec , N=471 registered voters nationwide who are Republicans or lean Republican. MoE ± 5.
"I'm going to read you the names of some Republican presidential candidates. Which one of the following Republican candidates would be your first choice for president: [see below]?" If unsure: "Just as of today, would you say you lean toward [see below]?" (Names were rotated)
Candidate
Percent
John McCain
22%
Rudy Giuliani
20%
Mike Huckabee
17%
Mitt Romney
12%
Fred Thompson 9%
Ron Paul 4%
Duncan Hunter 1%
Other (vol)
None (vol.) 2%
Unsure

14. Branches of Statistics
Descriptive Statistics: Involves organizing, summarizing, and displaying data.
Describes the important characteristics of the data.
e.g. Tables, charts, averages, percentages
Inferential Statistics: Involves using sample data to draw conclusions or make inferences about an entire population.

15. Example: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Decide which part of the study represents the descriptive branch of statistics. What conclusions might be drawn from the study using inferential statistics?
A sample of Illinois adults showed that 22.7% of those with a high school diploma were obese, and 16.7% of college graduates were obese. (Source: Illinois BRFSS, 2004)
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

16. Example: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Decide which part of the study represents the descriptive branch of statistics. What conclusions might be drawn from the study using inferential statistics?
A sample of 471 registered republicans showed that 22% would pick John McCain as the republican nominee for president. (Margin of error: 5%). (Source: USA Today/CNN poll)
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 16

17. Uses of Statistics
Almost all fields of study benefit from the application of statistical methods
Statistics often lead to change
page 11 of text

18. Misuses of Statistics Bad Samples Small Samples Misleading Graphs
Pictographs
Loaded Questions
Correlation & Causality
Self Interest Study

19. Misuse: Bad Samples
Samples must be unbiased and fairly represent the entire population.
If the data is not collected appropriately, the data may be completely useless. “Garbage in, garbage out”
Voluntary response sample : Respondents themselves decide whether to be included in the sample
Ex. Online surveys
Ex. Ratemyprofessor.com

20. Misuse: Misleading Graphs

21. CNN/USA Today Gallup poll on Terri Schiavo (March 2005)

22. CNN/USA Today Gallup poll on Terri Schiavo
(March 2005) Reprinted

23. Misuse: Pictographs

24. Misuse: Loaded Questions
“Should the President have the line item veto to eliminate waste?”
(97% said yes: )
“Should the President have the line item veto?”
(57% said yes: )

25. Misuse: Loaded Questions

26. Misuse: Correlation does not imply Cause and Effect

28. Misuses: Self Interest and Deliberate Distortions

30. Section 1.3
Experimental Design
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

31. Designing a Statistical Study
What is it you want to study?
What is the population to gather data from?
*Collect data. If you use a sample, it must be representative of the population.
Descriptive Statistics – organize, present, summarize data
Inferential Statistics – draw conclusions about the population based on sample data
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

32. Things to Consider with Samples
The sample must be unbiased and fairly represent the entire population.
If the data is not collected appropriately, the data may be completely useless. “Garbage in, garbage out”
Want the maximum information at the minimum cost. What sample size is needed?
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 32

33. Methods of Collecting Data
Observational study
Survey
Experiment
Simulation
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 33

34. Methods of Collecting Data
Observational study
A researcher observes or measures characteristics of interest of part of a population but does not change any existing conditions.
Experiment
A treatment is applied to part of a population and responses are observed.
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

35. Methods of Collecting Data
Survey
An investigation of one or more characteristics of a population, usually be asking people questions.
Commonly done by interview, mail, or telephone.
Simulation
Uses a mathematical or physical model to reproduce the conditions of a situation or process. Often involves the use of computers.
Larson/Farber 4th ed.

36. Example: Methods of Data Collection
Consider the following studies. Which method of data collection would you use to collect data for each study?
A study of salaries of NFL players.
A study of the emergency response times during a terrorist attack.
A study of whether changing teaching techniques improves FCAT scores.
A study of whether Tampa residents support a mass transit system.

37. Sampling Techniques Random versus Non-Random Samples
Convenience Samples
Simple Random Samples
Systematic Samples
Cluster Samples
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 37

38. Random and Non-Random Sampling
Every member of the population has an equal change of being selected.
Non-Random Sampling
Some members of the population have no chance of being picked. Often leads to biased samples.
Larson/Farber 4th ed. 38

39. Convenience Samples
Data is collected that is readily available and easy to get.
Self-selected surveys or voluntary response surveys (online surveys, magazine surveys, Verdict, Ratemyprofessor.com)

40. Simple Random Sample
A random sample where every member of the population and every group of the same size has an equal chance of being selected.
Usually involves using a random number generator. x

41. Simple Random Sampling
Number each element of the population from 1 to N.
Use a random number generator (table, calculator, computer) to randomly selected a sample of size “n”.
TI-83/4: randint (1,N,n), or:
Table 1 in text. Pick a random start.

42. Systematic Sampling
Choose a starting value at random. Then choose every kth member of the population.
example: Select every 3rd patient who enters the ER.

43. Stratified Sampling
Divide a population into at least 2 different subgroups (strata) that share the same characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, income, etc) and select a random sample from each group.
Advantages: More information

44. Cluster Sampling
Divide the population into many like subgroups (clusters); randomly select some of those clusters, and then select all of the members of those clusters to be in the sample.
Advantage: geographically separately populations

45. Sources of Error in Sampling
Sampling Error
the expected difference between a sample result and the true population result (e.g. “Margin of error”).
Non-Sampling Error *
sample data is incorrectly gathered, collected, or recorded.
Selection Bias - bad sample
Response Bias- bad data: incorrect responses, inaccurate measurements,
etc.)