Statistics

Technical Mathematics 2
Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
 Statistics is a branch of mathematics that teaches us how to make intelligent judgements and informed
decisions in the presence of uncertainty and variation.

 Descriptive statistics – methods of summarising and describing data for drawing conclusions based on
information collected on a sample of the population under observation.

 Inferential Statistics – techniques of generalising from a sample to a population. The researcher uses
sample information to draw conclusions/make inferences about a population.
Statistical Terms
 Population – well defined collection of all members under study.

 Census – when all members of the population participates in the study.

 Sample – A subset of the population selected for participation in a study.

 Variable – any characteristic of the population whose value may change or take different values.
Sampling Methods
 Random or Probability Sampling - In probability samples, each member of the population has a known
probability of being selected.

 Nonprobability sampling - members are selected from the population in some nonrandom manner.
Some elements of the population have no chance of selection, or where the probability of selection
cannot be accurately determined.
Types of Sampling
 Random sampling - Each member of the population has an equal and known chance of being selected.

 Stratified sampling - A stratum (for example gender, age, income level) is a subset of the population
that share at least one common characteristic. The researcher first identifies the relevant stratums and
their actual representation in the population. Random sampling is then used to select a sufficient
number of subjects from each stratum.

 Convenience or accesability sampling is used in exploratory research where the researcher is

interested in getting an inexpensive approximation of the truth. As the name implies, the sample is
selected because they are convenient.

 Volunteer Sampling – the subjects volunteer to participate in the study

Normal Distribution

 Most variables (e.g. height, IQ, income) are normally distributed in a

population.

 Bell-shaped, symmetrical distributions with majority of the sample having

scores close to the mean.

 Defined by 2 unknowns: Mean (m) and standard deviation (s). These represent
location and spread

 Normal distributions have the following properties Approximately half (50%) fall
above (and below) mean
 Approximately 68% fall within 1 standard deviation of mean
 Approximately 95% fall within 2 standard deviations of mean
 Virtually all fall within 3 standard deviations of mean
Normal Distribution- example
Heights of U.S. Adults
• Female and Male adult heights are well approximated by normal
distributions: YF~N(63.7,2.5) YM~N(69.1,2.6)
20
20
18

16

14

12

10 10

4 Std. Dev = 2.48 Std. Dev = 2.61

Mean = 63.7 Mean = 69.1

2
0 N = 99.23
0 N = 99.68
59.5 61.5 63.5 65.5 67.5 69.5 71.5 73.5 75.5
55.5 57.5 59.5 61.5 63.5 65.5 67.5 69.5
60.5 62.5 64.5 66.5 68.5 70.5 72.5 74.5 76.5
56.5 58.5 60.5 62.5 64.5 66.5 68.5 70.5

INCHESM
INCHESF
Cases weighted by PCTM
Cases weighted by PCTF
The Standard Normal Distribution

 Mean = 0
 Standard deviation = 1.
 General relationships:
±1 sd = about 68%
±2 sd = about 95%
±3 sd = about 99%
Standard Normal Curve- percentages represent the area
under the curve
Example
 Assuming that the population of all students in
UTT has a mean shoe size of 9 and a standard
deviation of 1.2.

 Estimate the percentage of the population whose

shoe size is:
 Between 9 and 10.2
 Greater than 10.2
 Less than 6.6
Solution
 Draw a normal curve inserting the percentages and replace the mean by 9

 To the right of 9, compute the sd units by adding one, two and three sd’s to the mean, this will give
10.2, 11.4 and 12.6

 Repeat the process to the left of the curve to obtain 7.8, 6.6 and 5.4

 The percentage of the population whose shoe size is

 Between 9 and 10.2 is 34%
 Greater than 10.2: 13.5+2+0.5= 16%
 Less than 6.6: 2.5%