Chapter 3 S 1
Chapter 3 S 1
Chapter 3 S 1
Chapter No.: 3
Class: BSc
Subject: Statistics-1
E-Mail: waseem.mustafa.ibd@gmail.com
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Important Points:
3.1) What is Statistics?
Statistics is a mathematical science concerned with analysing and interpreting data.
3.3) Bias:
Besides the common-sense meaning of bias, in statistics there is a more technical
meaning. Intuitively, bias is something we should aim to minimise (if not eliminate
entirely). Systematic bias refers to an estimation methodology which results in
systematic errors, i.e. consistently over- or under-estimating some population
parameter (discussed shortly). It would be difficult to justify a methodology that was
biased, hence sample survey methodology places great emphasis on unbiased surveys
and unbiased estimators.
3.1) Parameters:
We can define a parameter (or set of parameters) as that measure (or the set of
measures) which completely describe a function.
For example, parameters of a circle are radius and center and similarly parameters of
a straight line are gradient m and y-intercept c.
3.2) Census:
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about
the members of a given population. It is regularly occuring and official account of a
particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population
and housing censuses.
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Exercise:
Q 1) Explain the difference between
a) A simple random sample and a random sample.
b) Stratified random sampling and cluster sampling.
Q 4) Your college surveyed its students to determine average time spent surfing the internet.
From a random sample of 174 students the average time was computed to be 6.1 hours.
a) What is the population?
b) What is the sample?
c) What is the statistic?
d) Is the value 6.1 hours a parameter or a statistic?
Q 5) One airline claims that less than 1% of its scheduled flights out of Orlando International
Airport depart late. From a random sample of 200 flights, 1.5% were found to depart later
than the scheduled time.
a) What is the population?
b) What is the sample?
c) What is the statistic?
d) Is 1.5% a parameter or a statistic?
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i) A random sample
ii) A quota sample
State whether the following statements are true or false and give a brief explanation (Note
that no marks given for a simple true/false answer)
State whether the following statements are true or false and give a brief explanation (Note
that no marks given for a simple true/false answer)
State whether the following statements are true or false and give a brief explanation (Note
that no marks given for a simple true/false answer)
State whether the following statements are true or false and give a brief explanation (Note
that no marks given for a simple true/false answer)
State whether the following statement is possible or not possible and give a brief explanation
(Note that no marks given for a simple possible/ not possible answer)
Answers:
Q 1)
a) In Random Sampling each individual is chosen entirely by chance and each member of
the population has a known, but possibly non-equal chance of being included in the
sample, On the other hand, in Simple Random Sampling each individual is chosen
entirely by chance and each member of the population has a known, but strictly equal
chance of being included in the sample.
b) The main difference between cluster sampling and stratified sampling is that in cluster
sampling the cluster is treated as the sampling unit so analysis is done on a population
of clusters. In stratified sampling, the analysis is done on elements within strata.
Q 2) To properly define a circle we need to specify its location and size. Hence two suitable
parameters would be the co-ordinates of the circle’s centre point (defines its location) and its
radius (defines its size).
Q 3)
a) A population parameter could be the true overall population mean income of all
families living in West Palm Beach, Florida
b) A population parameter could be the true overall population standard deviation of all
stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
c) A population parameter could be the true population mean costs of all medical
insurance claims received by a company in a given year.
d) A population parameter would be the true population mean values of all accounts
receivable for a corporation.
Q 4)
a) The population consists of all students at the college
b) The sample consists of the 174 students that were randomly selected
c) The statistic is the 6.1 hours that was calculated from the sample
d) 6.1 hours is a sample statistic
Q 5)
a) The population consists of all of the airline’s scheduled flights at Orlando
International Airport.
b) The sample consists of the randomly selected 200 flights.
c) The statistic is the 1.5% that were found to depart later than the scheduled time for the
200 randomly selected flights.
d) 1.5% is a sample statistic.
Q 6) See 3.3 & 3.7 of Important Points of these Practice Questions
Q 7) See 3.4, 3.5 & 3.7 of Important Points of these Practice Questions
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Q 8) False, because in random sample, each individual has equal probability while in Quota
sampling each individual has not equal probability.
Q 9) False, because in random sample, each individual has equal probability while in Quota
sampling each individual has not equal probability.
Q 12) See 3.4, & 3.7 of Important Points of these Practice Questions
Q 15) See 3.4, & 3.5 of Important Points of these Practice Questions
Q 16) See 3.6, & 3.7 of Important Points of these Practice Questions
Q 17) See 3.5, & 3.7 of Important Points of these Practice Questions
Q 18) There is no reason why random sampling should have high or low variability in its
estimates. But, in general, the lower the sample size n, the higher the variability and so the
statement is `possible'.
Q 19) Sampling error arises as part of the process of random sampling and can be measured
and used to give the accuracy of estimates. Sampling bias arises from a systematic error and
cannot be easily measured.