Statistics is a discipline in its own right. It would therefore be desirable to know the characteristic features of statistics in order to appreciate and understand its general nature. Some of its important characteristics are given below:
• Statistics deals with the behavior of aggregates or large groups of data. It has nothing to do with what is happening to a particular individual or object of the aggregate.
• Statistics deals with aggregates of observations of the same kind rather than isolated figures.
• Statistics deals with variability that obscures underlying patterns. No two objects in this universe are exactly
alike. If they were, there would have been no statistical problem.
• Statistics deals with uncertainties as every process of getting observations whether controlled or uncontrolled, involves deficiencies or chance variation. That is why we have to talk in terms of probability.
• Statistics deals with those characteristics or aspects of things which can be described numerically either by
counts or by measurements.
• Statistics deals with those aggregates which are subject to a number of random causes, e.g. the heights of
persons are subject to a number of causes such as race, ancestry, age, diet, habits, climate and so forth.
• Statistical laws are valid on the average or in the long run. There is n guarantee that a certain law will hold in
all cases. Statistical inference is therefore made in the face of uncertainty.
• Statistical results might be misleading the incorrect if sufficient care in collecting, processing and interpreting
the data is not exercised or if the statistical data are handled by a person who is not well versed in the subject
mater of statistics.
THE WAY IN WHICH STATISTICS WORKS
As it is such an important area of knowledge, it is definitely useful to have a fairly good idea about the way in which it works, and this is exactly the purpose of this introductory course.
The following points indicate some of the main functions of this science:
• Statistics assists in summarizing the larger set of data in a form that is easily understandable.
• Statistics assists in the efficient design of laboratory and field experiments as well as surveys.
• Statistics assists in a sound and effective planning in any field of inquiry.
• Statistics assists in drawing general conclusions and in making predictions of how much of a thing will
happen under given conditions.
• Statistics deals with the behavior of aggregates or large groups of data. It has nothing to do with what is happening to a particular individual or object of the aggregate.
• Statistics deals with aggregates of observations of the same kind rather than isolated figures.
• Statistics deals with variability that obscures underlying patterns. No two objects in this universe are exactly
alike. If they were, there would have been no statistical problem.
• Statistics deals with uncertainties as every process of getting observations whether controlled or uncontrolled, involves deficiencies or chance variation. That is why we have to talk in terms of probability.
• Statistics deals with those characteristics or aspects of things which can be described numerically either by
counts or by measurements.
• Statistics deals with those aggregates which are subject to a number of random causes, e.g. the heights of
persons are subject to a number of causes such as race, ancestry, age, diet, habits, climate and so forth.
• Statistical laws are valid on the average or in the long run. There is n guarantee that a certain law will hold in
all cases. Statistical inference is therefore made in the face of uncertainty.
• Statistical results might be misleading the incorrect if sufficient care in collecting, processing and interpreting
the data is not exercised or if the statistical data are handled by a person who is not well versed in the subject
mater of statistics.
THE WAY IN WHICH STATISTICS WORKS
As it is such an important area of knowledge, it is definitely useful to have a fairly good idea about the way in which it works, and this is exactly the purpose of this introductory course.
The following points indicate some of the main functions of this science:
• Statistics assists in summarizing the larger set of data in a form that is easily understandable.
• Statistics assists in the efficient design of laboratory and field experiments as well as surveys.
• Statistics assists in a sound and effective planning in any field of inquiry.
• Statistics assists in drawing general conclusions and in making predictions of how much of a thing will
happen under given conditions.
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