Basic-Terms-in-Statistics by Ronald Walpole 3rd Edition

Basic terms in statistical methods in social science

1. BASIC TERMS IN
STATISTICS

2. Definition: Statistics is concerned
with scientific methods for collecting,
organizing, summarizing, presenting,
and analyzing data as well as with
drawing valid conclusions and making
reasonable decisions on the basis of
such analysis. (Spiegel and Stephens,
1999).

3. Definition: Descriptive
Statistics comprises those
methods concerned with
collecting and describing a
set of data so as to yield a
meaningful information.
(Walpole, 1982)

4. Definition: Statistical inference
comprises those methods
concerned with the analysis of a
subset of data leading to
predictions or inferences about
the entire set of data. (Walpole,
1982)

5. Population and Sample
Definition: A population consists
of the totality of the observations
with which are concerned.
(Walpole, 1982)
 
Definition: A sample is a subset of
a population. (Walpole, 1982)
 

6. Summation
Notation
 
n
n
i
i
xxxx 


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