PLG 310 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: Simple Random Sample, Sampling Frame, Stratified Sampling
Document Summary
We must begin with the definition of statistics and expand on the details. Statistics: the science of collecting, describing and interpreting data. Statistical methods: carefully defining the situation, gathering data, accurately summarizing the data, deriving and communicating meaningful conclusions. Descriptive statistics is what most people think of statistics. Includes collection, presentation and description of sample data. Inferential statistics: refers to the technique of interpreting values resulting from descriptive techniques and making decisions and drawing conclusions about population. Example: percentage of 800 kindergarten teachers surveyed about skills: all percentages add up to more than 100, this means teachers were able to answer more than once. Example: teens using cell phones in class: needed information: cell phone status, number of text messages per week. Source details can give you information about the quality of the information. Also pay attention to the margin of error: example: +/- 3 percentage points of error. In education, descriptive statistics are used to describe test results.
