Statistics Lecture Part 1

STATISTICS APPLIED
TO RESEARCH
“Statistics is like a
bikini, what it reveals
is suggestive, what it
conceals is vital”
What is STATISTICS?
Definition:
Statistics is the science of
collecting, organizing, summarizing,
and analyzing information to draw
conclusions or answer questions.
What information is referred to
in the definition?
The information referred to the
definition is the data.
According to the Merriam Webster
d i c t i o n a r y, d a t a a r e “ f a c t u a l
information used as a basis for
reasoning, discussion, or
calculation”.
Understand the Process of
Statistics
1. Identify the research objective
A researcher must determine the
question(s) he or she wants answered.
The question(s) must be detailed so that it
identifies a group that is to be studied and
the questions that are to be answered. The
group to be studied is called the
population.
Definition:
Universe is the set of all entities
under study
Population is the set of all possible
values of the variable.
An individual is a person or object
that is a member of the population
being studied
Statistics
2. Collect the information needed to
answer the questions
Everybody collects and uses information, much of it
in numerical or statistical forms in day-to-day life.
Gaining access to an entire population is often
difficult and expensive. In conducting research, we
typically look at a subset of the population called a
sample.
Definition:
Sample is the subset of the

universe or the population.
Why do we use SAMPLES?
Reduced Cost
Greater Speed or Timeliness
*Greater Efficiency and Accuracy
*Greater Scope
Convenience
Necessity
Ethical Considerations
*Random Samples
Exercises:
A research objective is presented. For each
research objective, identify the population
and sample in the study.
1. The Philippine Mental Health Associations

contacts 1,028 teenagers who are 13 to 17 years
of age and live in Antipolo City and asked
whether or not they had been prescribed
medications for any mental disorders, such as
depression or anxiety.
ANSWER:
Population: Teenagers 13 to 17 years of
age who live in Antipolo City
Sample: 1,028 teenagers 13 to 17 years

of age who live in Antipolo City
Exercises:
A research objective is presented. For each
research objective, identify the population
and sample in the study.
2. A farmer wanted to learn about the

weight of his soybean crop. He randomly
sampled 100 plants and weighted the
soybeans on each plant.
ANSWER:
Population: Entire soybean crop
Sample: 100 plants selected

Statistics
3. Organize and summarize the information
This step in the process is referred to as
descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics
describe the information collected through
numerical measurements, charts, graphs, and
tables. The main purpose of descriptive
statistics is to provide an overview of the
information collected.
Statistics
4. Draw conclusion from the information.
In this step the information collected from the
sample is generalized to the population. This
process is referred to as Inferential statistics.
Inferential statistics uses methods that takes
results obtained from a sample, extends them
to the population, and measures the reliability
of the result.
Inferential Statistics
Reminders:
If the entire population is studied, then
inferential statistics is not necessary,
because descriptive statistics will
provide all the information that we
need regarding the population.
Exercises:
For the following statements, decide whether it
belongs to the field of descriptive statistics or
inferential statistics.
1. A badminton player wants to know his

average score for the past 10 games.
Answer:
Descriptive Statistics
Exercises:
2. A car manufacturer wishes to estimate the
average lifetime of batteries by testing a sample
of 50 batteries.
Answer:
Exercises:
3. Janine wants to determine the variability of

her six exam scores in Algebra.
Answer:
Exercises:
4. A shipping company wishes to estimate the

number of passengers traveling via their ships
next year using their data on the number of
passengers in the past three years.
Answer:
Exercises:
5. A politician wants to determine the total

number of votes his rival obtained in the past
election based on his copies of the tally sheet of
electoral returns.
Answer:
Distinguish between Qualitative
and Quantitative Variables
Definition:
Variables are the characteristics of
the individual within the
population.
Classification of Variables
Variables can be classified into two groups:
1.Qualitative variables is variable that yields
categorical responses. It is a word or a code
that represents a class or category.
2.Quantitative variables takes on numerical

values representing an amount or quantity.
Exercises:
Determine whether the following
variables are qualitative or quantitative.
1. Gender
2. Temperature
3. Number of Children
4. Hair Color
5. Zip Code
ANSWER:
1. Qualitative Variable
2. Quantitative Variable
3. Quantitative Variable
Distinguish between Discrete
and Continuous Variables
Quantitative variables may be further
classify into:
Discrete variable is a quantitative
variable that either a finite number of
possible values or a countable number of
possible values. The terms countable
means that the values result from
counting, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Distinguish between Discrete
and Continuous Variables
Quantitative variables may be further

classify into:
A continuous variable is a quantitative

variable that has an infinite number of
possible values that are not countable.
Exercises:
Determine whether the following quantitative
variables are discrete or continuous.
1. The number of heads obtained after flipping a coin
five times.
2. The number of cars that arrive at a McDonald’s
drive-through between 12:00 P.M and 1:00 P.M.
3. The distance of a 2005 Toyota Prius can travel in city
conditions with a full tank of gas.
4. Number of words correctly spelled.
5. Response time.
ANSWER:
1. Discrete
2. Discrete
3. Continuous
4. Discrete
5. Continuous
Levels of Measurement
Nominal Level
Identify, name, classify, or categorize
objects or events.
Example:
Method of payment (cash, check, debit card,
credit card), Type of school (public vs. private),
Eye Color (Blue, Green, Brown)
Ordinal Level
Like nominal scales, identify, name, classify, or
categorize, objects or events but have an
additional property of a logical or natural order
to the categories or values.
Example:
Food Preferences, Rank of a Military officer,
Social Economic Class (First, Middle, Lower)
Interval Level
Identify, have ordered values, and have the
additional property of equal distances or
intervals between scale.
Example:
Temperature on Fahrenheit/Celsius Thermometer,
Trait anxiety (e.g., high anxious vs. low anxious),
IQ (e.g., high IQ vs. average IQ vs. low IQ)
Ratio Level
Identify, order, represent equal distances
between scores values, and have an
absolute zero point.
Example:
Height, Weight, Number of words
correctly spelled
Exercises:
Categorize each of the following as nominal,
ordinal, interval or ratio measurement.
1. Ranking of college athletic teams
2. Employee number
3. Number of vehicles registered
4. Brands of soft drinks
5. Number of car passers along C5 on a given
day
ANSWER:
1. Ordinal
2. Nominal
3. Ratio
4. Nominal
5. Ratio
Data Collection
Definition:
Data collection is the process of
gathering and measuring information on
variables of interest, in an established
systematic fashion that enables one to
answer stated research questions, test
hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.
Consequences from Improperly
Collected Data
✦ Inability to answer research questions

accurately
✦ Inability to repeat and validate the study
✦ Distorted findings resulting in wasted
resources
Consequences from Improperly
Collected Data
✦ Misleading other researchers to pursue
fruitless avenues of investigation
✦ Compromising decisions for public
policy
✦ Causing harm to human participants
and animal subjects
Steps in Data Gathering
1. Set the objectives for collecting data
2. Determine the data needed based on the
set objectives.
3. Determine the method to be used in
d a t a g a t h e r i n g a n d d e fi n e t h e
comprehensive data collection points.
4. Design data gathering forms to be used.

5. Collect data
6. Organize, summarize and consolidate
data gathered.
7. Analyze data using different tools and
techniques.
8. Compare resulting information with
standards, targets and customer
requirements.
9. Decide what action to take based on
information gathered.
Sources of
Data
Primary Secondary
Data Data
Information that has

Include information already been
collected and collected, processed
processed directly by and reported out by
the researcher another
researcher/entity
Primary Data
The primary data can be collected by the
following five methods.
1. Direct personal interviews. The
researcher has direct contact with the
interviewee. The researcher gathers
information by asking questions to the
interviewee.
Primary Data
2. Indirect/Questionnaire Method. This
methods of data collection involve
sourcing and accessing existing data that
were originally collected for the purpose
of the study.
Key Design Principles of a
Good Questionnaire
1. Keep the questionnaire as short as

possible
2. Decide on the type of questionnaire
3. Write the questions properly
4. Order the questions appropriately
Key Design Principles of a
Good Questionnaire
5. Write an introductory letter or an
introduction
6. Write special instructions for
interviewers or respondents
7. Translate the questions if necessary
8. Pretest the questionnaire
Open-Ended vs. Closed-Ended
Questionnaire
Primary Data
3. A focus group is a group interview of
approximately six to twelve people who
share similar characteristics or common
interests. A facilitator guides the group
based on a predetermined set of topics.
Primary Data
4. Experiment is a method of collecting
data where there is direct human
intervention on the conditions that may
affect the values of the variable of
interest.
Bear in mind that the experimental
method has several limitations that you
should be aware of.
✦ Ethical, moral, and legal Concerns

✦ Unrealistic Controlled Environments
✦ Inability to Control for All Variables
Primary Data
5. Observation is a method of collecting

data on the phenomenon of interest by
recording the observations made about
the phenomenon as it actually happens.
SecondaryData
Method of Collecting Secondary Data
✦ Published report on newspaper and periodicals
✦ Financial Data reported in annual reports
✦ Records maintained by the institution
✦ Internal reports of the government departments
✦ Information from official publications
Reminders:
✦ Always investigate the validity and
reliability of the data by examining
the collection method employed by
your source.
✦ Do not use inappropriate data for
your research.

Statistics Lecture Part 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Statistics Lecture Part 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Statistics Lecture Part 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

STATISTICS APPLIED

Sample is the subset of the

1. The Philippine Mental Health Associations

Sample: 1,028 teenagers 13 to 17 years

2. A farmer wanted to learn about the

Population: Entire soybean crop

Sample: 100 plants selected

1. A badminton player wants to know his

3. Janine wants to determine the variability of

4. A shipping company wishes to estimate the

5. A politician wants to determine the total

2.Quantitative variables takes on numerical

Quantitative variables may be further

A continuous variable is a quantitative

✦ Inability to answer research questions

4. Design data gathering forms to be used.

Information that has

1. Keep the questionnaire as short as

✦ Ethical, moral, and legal Concerns

5. Observation is a method of collecting

You might also like