Math 201 Study Guide Quizzes

Descriptive Statistics - utilizes numerical and graphical methods to explore data, i.e. to look for patterns in a data set, to summarize the info revealed in a data set, and to present the information in a convenient form Inferential Statistics - utilizes sample data to make estimates, decisions, predictions, or other generalizations about a larger set of data Statistics - the science of data. Involves collecting, classifying, summarizing, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting numerical and categorical data experimental (or observational) unit - is an object (e.g. person, thing, transaction, or event) upon which we collect data population - a set of units (usually people, objects, transactions, or events) that we are interested in studying variable - characteristic or property of an individual experimental (or behavioral) unit measurement - the process we use to assign numbers to variables of individual population units Census - measure a variable for every experimental unit of a population sample - subset of the units of a population statistical inference - an estimate or prediction or some other generalization about the population based on information contained in a sample reliability - how good the inference is measure of reliability - a statement (usually quantified) about the degree of uncertainty associated with a statistical inference Four Elements of Descriptive Statistical Problems - 1. The population or sample of interest 2. One or more variable (characteristics of the population or experimental units) that are to be investigated 3. Tables, graphs, or numerical summary tools 4. Identification of patterns in the data Five Elements of Inferential Statistical Problems - 1. The population of interest 2. One or more variables (characteristics of the population or experimental units) that are to be investigated 3. The sample of population units 4. The inference about the population based on information contained in the sample 5. The measure of reliability for the inference process - a series of actions or operations that transforms inputs to outputs. A process produces or generates output over time back box - a process whose operations or actions are unknown or unspecified sample (process) - Any set of output (object or numbers) produced by a process is also called a sample Quantitative Data - are measurements that are recorded on a naturally occurring numerical scale Qualitative Data - measurements that cannot be measured on a natural numerical scale; they can only be classified into one of a group of categories