An Overview of Statistics 1.1 2 CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Statistics What You Should Learn A definition of statistics How to distinguish between a population and a sample and between a parameter and a statistic How to distinguish between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics A Definition of Statistics Data Sets Branches of Statistics A Definition of Statistics Almost every day you are exposed to statistics. For instance, consider the next two statements. • “7 in 10 Americans believe the arts unify their communities, and 2 in 5 Americans have changed an opinion or perception based on an arts experience.” (Source: Americans for the Arts) • “Notably, 21% of 8–11 year-olds have a social media profile.” (Source: Smart Insights, Ltd.) By learning the concepts in this text, you will gain the tools to become an informed consumer, understand statistical studies, conduct statistical research, and sharpen your critical thinking skills. Many statistics are presented graphically. For instance, consider the figure shown below. What Americans Know About Science U.S. adults who know... Source: Pew Research Center 79% 57% 39% ...that antibiotic resistance is a major concern of antibiotics ...that a car traveling 40 mph travels 30 miles in 45 minutes ...that oil, natural gas, and coal are fossil fuels ...that the main components of antacids are bases 68% overuse The information in the figure is based on the collection of data. In this instance, the data are based on the results of a science quiz given to 4464 U.S. adults. Data consist of information coming from observations, counts, measurements, or responses. DEFINITION The use of statistics dates back to census taking in ancient Babylonia, Egypt, and later in the Roman Empire, when data were collected about matters concerning the state, such as births and deaths. In fact, the word statistics is derived from the Latin word status, meaning “state.” The modern practice of statistics involves more than counting births and deaths, as you can see in the next definition. Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data to make decisions. DEFINITION For help with percents and reading graphs, see Integrated Review at MyLab® Statistics
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjM5ODQ=