Language of Statistics

Statistics is about Learning From Data.

The four-step process by which we can learn from data:

1. Define the Problem
2. Collect the Data
3. Summarize the Data
4. Analyze the Data, Interpret the Analyses, and Communicating the Results

• Knowing the vocabulary used in Statistics is sometimes difficult. The reason why is because of the use of common words that are in the dictionary as technical terms.
• Examples: mean, variation, correlation, sample, population, random, hypothesis, confidence, and the list goes on.

• We need to keep a list of the vocabulary so we understand what is being asked in Statistics related questions.
• Start with sample and population.

Population: the set of all measurements of interest

Sample: any subset of measurements selected from the population

1. Monitoring quality of a lightbulb manufacturing facility. This is an example where Quality Control/6 Sigma is used.
2. Relationship between quitting smoking and gaining weight. This is an example of Medical Research.
3. What effect does nitrogen fertilizer have on wheat production? This is an example of Agricultural Research.
4. Determining public opinion toward a question, issue, product, or candidate. This is an example of Polling.

• The Gallop Organization is one of the long standing companies that does Public Opinion Polling and other Polling.
• Gallop Poll on wikipedia
• Gallop website

• Find the reference to the Utts paper.
• jstor in the library, see Statistics and locate the American Statistician, May 2003
• Utts, What Educated Citizens Should Know About Statistics and Probability.

summary(cars)

     speed           dist       
 Min.   : 4.0   Min.   :  2.00  
 1st Qu.:12.0   1st Qu.: 26.00  
 Median :15.0   Median : 36.00  
 Mean   :15.4   Mean   : 42.98  
 3rd Qu.:19.0   3rd Qu.: 56.00  
 Max.   :25.0   Max.   :120.00