Statistics

Meaning:

Study of how to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret numerical information and data

Both the science of uncertainty and the technology of extracting information from data

Individuals & Variables

Individuals:

Objects included in a study

Variables:

Characteristic of the individual to be measured or observed

Parameters vs. Statistics

Population:

A group of people or objects iwth a common theme

Example:

Theme: Nurses who work at Hostipal A

Population: List from HR of every nurse currently employed at Hospital A

Sample:

A small portion of the population - could be representative or biased

Example:

Not Representative: Only ICU nurses

Representative: One nurse from each department

Population Data vs. Sample Data:

Population Data:

Data from every individual in the population (entire population = census)

Example: US Census (every 10 years)

Sample Data:

Data from some of the individuals in the population (commonly used with studies of patients)

Example: Amereican Community Survey (yearly)

Statistical Notation

N: Total Population | n: Sample of Population

Parameter vs. Statistic