MSCI 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: Data Mining, Time Series, Eurostat
21 Jun 2018
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CHAPTER 1 – Why Statistics is Important to you
Statistics – a way of reasoning, along with a collection of tools and methods, designed to help us
understand the world
- a way of making sense of our world though the collection, analysis and understanding
of data
Statistics - quantities calculated from a subset (aka sample) of a complete data set (aka a
population)
Parameter – a quantity calculated from a population
Data – values along with their context
Plan, do report – carefully plan what you intend to do before you carry out your plan; follow
your plan’ carefully explain your findings
Information = useful data
CHAPTER 2 – Data
Data (pl.)– the “things given” for us to turn into information
- systematically recorded information, whether number of labels together with its
context
Context – Who, what, when, where, why, how – it is key to understanding the data
- Who and what – essential for collecting data used for producing useful information
- rows of data correspond to individual cases about whom (or what) we record some
characteristics
- Who:
- Respondents – individuals who answer surveys
- Subjects – people whom we experiment on (= participants, when we acknowledge
the importance of their role)
- Experimental units – animals, plants, websites etc. that we experiment on
- Participant (=subject)– a human experimental unit
- Case – an individual about whom we have data
- What – variables of interest (characteristics) measured form the who, with their specific
values being the data
- records –information about an individual (row) in a database
- Observations – how data values are sometimes referred to (careful that you are clear
about the who)
! participants know that they are being observed (can act differently)
! participants don’t know that they are being observed (more accurate)
- Surveys – internet (best chance of getting answered, more honest), personal
interview, mail
- Variables – the characteristics recorded about each individual or case, usually the
columns, should have a name identifying the what
- Value - piece of information on a variable for a single case, data are the values of
variables
! ex. height of students =variable, actual measurements of heights = values
Document Summary
Chapter 1 why statistics is important to you. Statistics a way of reasoning, along with a collection of tools and methods, designed to help us understand the world a way of making sense of our world though the collection, analysis and understanding of data. Statistics - quantities calculated from a subset (aka sample) of a complete data set (aka a population) Parameter a quantity calculated from a population. Plan, do report carefully plan what you intend to do before you carry out your plan; follow your plan" carefully explain your findings. ) the things given for us to turn into information systematically recorded information, whether number of labels together with its context. Context who, what, when, where, why, how it is key to understanding the data. Who and what essential for collecting data used for producing useful information rows of data correspond to individual cases about whom (or what) we record some characteristics.
