Statistics Flashcards
(179 cards)
Bivariate data
Data relating to pairs of variables
Variables that are statistically related
Correlated
How do you identify correlation
Scatter graph
What goes on x axis
Explanatory or independent variable
Population
The set of things you are interested in
E.g. all people in the uk
Census
Observes or measures every member of the population
Parameter
A number that describes the entire population
E.g. the mean or standard deviation
Sample
Subset of a population
Used to find out information about the whole population
Statistic
A value calculated from a sample
E.g. the mean or standard deviation of the sample that can be used to estimate the mean of the population or standard deviation of the population
Sampling unit
An individual unit from the population
E.g. The particular person living in the uk
Sampling frame
A list of all the sampling units in the population
E.g. The electoral register for the uk
Advantage of using a sample over a census
Quicker, fewer people have to respond and less data to process
Less expensive
Advantage of using a census over a sample
Should be a completely accurate result
A sample may not be large enough to give information about small sub groups of the population
Sample disadvantage
Data may not be accurate
Sample might not be large enough to give information about small sub groups
Census disadvantage
Takes a long time and expensive
Hard to process the large quantities of data
Cannot be used if the testing destroys them
Advantages of sampling
Quick and not as expensive
Fewer people have to respond
Less data to process
Advantages of a census
Should give a completely accurate result
If you want to know the mean number of sweets in a packet of sweets, why is it not possible to use a census
Destroying all the sweets
Can’t use a census if all the sampling units are being destroyed
3 methods of random sampling
Simple random sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
Simple random sampling method
Number all the items in the population
Use a random number generator to select sample of desired size
If a number is replicated generate another number for item to be sampled
Systematic sampling method
Number all items in the population
Let n=population size/sample size
Use random number generator from 1 to n to select the first item
Choose every nth item
Stratified sampling method
The population divided into groups
Decide how many to sample from each group using…
(Number in group/Number in population)×sample size
Use simple random sampling to select the items from each group
So it is proportional and representative
2 methods of non random sampling
Opportunity sampling/convenience sampling
Quota sampling
Opportunity sampling method
Sample consists of any items available to be sampled
Used to sample the required number from each group and once requirement is filled any further items are ignored
E.g. who walks into the frozen aisle of a supermarket