Statistics Vs Inferential Statistics

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1.1 Introduction ; Statistics is a very broad subject, with applications in a vast number of different fields. In generally one can say that statistics is the methodology for collecting, analyzing, interpreting and drawing conclusions from information. Putting it in other words, statistics is the methodology which scientists and mathematicians have developed for interpreting and drawing conclusions from collected data. Everything that deals even remotely with the collection, processing, interpretation and presentation of data belongs to the domain of statistics, and so does the detailed planning of that precedes all these activities. (Statistics). Statistics consists of a body of methods for collecting and analyzing data. From above, it…show more content…
The branch of statistics devoted to the summarization and description of data is called descriptive statistics and the branch of statistics concerned with using sample data to make an inference about a population of data is called inferential statistics. (Descriptive Statistics). Descriptive statistics consist of methods for organizing and summarizing information (Inferential Statistics). Inferential statistics consist of methods for drawing and measuring the reliability of conclusions about population based on information obtained from a sample of the population. Descriptive statistics includes the construction of graphs, charts, and tables, and the calculation of various descriptive measures such as averages, measures of variation, and percentiles. In fact, the most part of this course deals with descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics includes methods like point estimation, interval estimation and hypothesis testing which are all based on probability theory. (Descriptive and Inferential Statistics). Consider event of tossing dice. The dice is rolled 100 times and the results are forming the sample data. Descriptive statistics is used to grouping the sample data to the following…show more content…
A statistic is a known numerical summary of the sample which can be used to make inference about parameters. So the inference about some specific unknown parameter is based on a statistic. We use known sample statistics in making inferences about unknown population parameters. The primary focus of most research studies is the parameters of the population, not statistics calculated for the particular sample selected. The sample and statistics describing it are important only insofar as they provide information about the unknown parameters. 1.5 Statistical data analysis The goal of statistics is to gain understanding from data. Any data analysis should contain following steps: To conclude this section, we can note that the major objective of statistics is to make inferences about population from an analysis of information contained in sample data. This includes assessments of the extent of uncertainty involved in these inferences. Conclusion When setting out to perform user research—whether performing the research yourself or assigning it to an employee or a consultant—it is important to understand the different applications of these two approaches to research. This understanding can help you to choose the appropriate research approach yourself, understand why a researcher has chosen a particular approach, or communicate with researchers or stakeholders about a research approach and your overarching research

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