True or False
Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false:
a. Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.
b. A statistic is a single measure, reported as a number, used to summarize a sample data set.
c. Descriptive statistics refers to generalizing from a sample to a population, estimating unknown parameters, drawing conclusions, and making decisions.
d. One of the advantages of censuses is that they provide up-to-date data.
e. Inferential statistics refers to the collection, organization, presentation, and summary of data, either by using charts and graphs or through numerical summaries.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Let’s go through each statement one by one:
a. Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.
- True.
Statistics is indeed the science that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data. It involves a wide range of activities, from gathering raw data to summarizing it and drawing conclusions or making decisions based on that data.
b. A statistic is a single measure, reported as a number, used to summarize a sample data set.
- True.
A statistic is a numerical measure derived from a sample, which helps summarize or describe the sample data. Examples of statistics include the sample mean, sample standard deviation, and sample proportion. These measures provide insights into the characteristics of the sample.
c. Descriptive statistics refers to generalizing from a sample to a population, estimating unknown parameters, drawing conclusions, and making decisions.
- False.
Descriptive statistics is actually concerned with the summarization and presentation of data in a meaningful way, such as through measures like averages, percentages, or visualizations (charts, graphs). The statement describes inferential statistics, not descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics is about making generalizations, estimating population parameters, and drawing conclusions from sample data.
d. One of the advantages of censuses is that they provide up-to-date data.
- False.
While censuses are comprehensive surveys that aim to collect data from the entire population, they are not always up-to-date. Censuses typically occur at regular intervals (e.g., every 10 years) and may not capture changes that happen between these periods. In contrast, other types of surveys or data collection methods might provide more current data.
e. Inferential statistics refers to the collection, organization, presentation, and summary of data, either by using charts and graphs or through numerical summaries.
- False.
This statement describes descriptive statistics, not inferential statistics. Inferential statistics involves making predictions, inferences, or generalizations about a population based on sample data, including estimation and hypothesis testing. Descriptive statistics, on the other hand, focuses on summarizing and presenting data in a manageable and interpretable format.
Explanation:
- Descriptive statistics are used to organize and summarize data, often with the use of graphs, charts, or measures like mean, median, or standard deviation. They are designed to give a quick overview of the dataset.
- Inferential statistics are used to make conclusions about a population based on a sample, often through techniques like confidence intervals or hypothesis testing. It helps us estimate the characteristics of a population from the data gathered in a sample.
- A census is a complete survey of a population, while sampling uses a subset of the population for statistical analysis.