Why Statistics?
by Joey Pascua
Historical evidences about the prevalence of a very good system of collecting vital statistics and registration of births and deaths even before 300 B.C. are available in Kautilya's 'Arthashastra'.
Sixteen century saw the application of Statistics for the collection of the data relating to the movements of heavenly bodies-stars and planets-to know about their position and for the prediction of Eclipses.
Captain John Graunt of London, known as the Father of Vital Statistics, was the first man to make a systematic study of the birth and death statistics.
Modern stalwarts in the development of the subject of Statistics are Englishmen who did pioneering work in the application of Statistics to different disciplines.
Perhaps most of the work in the statistical theory during the past few decades can be attributed to a single person Sir Ronald A. Fisher who applied statistics to a variety of diversified fields such as genetics, biometry, psychology and education, agriculture, etc.
Who is rightly termed as the Father of Statistics.
In singular sense statistics is used to describe the principles and methods which are employed in collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of data.
So this is quite comprehensive meaning and interpretation of the term statistics.
Boddington's definition also fails to describe the meaning and functions of statistics since it is confined to only probabilities and estimates.
King's definition is also inadequate since it confines statistics only to social sciences.
We give below some selected definitions of statistics as numerical data.
The definition of Statistics as given by Horace Secrist is most comprehensive and clearly points out certain essential characteristics which must be possessed by numerical data, in order to be called 'Statistics'.
Are called statistics and are studied in relation to each other.
Qualitative phenomena which cannot be numerically expressed, cannot be described as statistics e.g. honesty, goodness, ability, etc.
In order to have reasonable standard of accuracy statistics must be collected in a very systematic manner.
Statistics is a method for the purpose of comparison etc.
Statistics is a branch of science which is concerned with the study of variables that vary in unpredictable fashion and helps in providing an understanding of the phenomena and objects which show such variations.
As a matter of fact there are millions of people all over the world who have not heard a word about statistics and yet who make a profuse use of statistical methods in their day- to-day decisions.
The modern theory of Statistics has its foundations on the theory of probability which in turn is a particular branch of more advanced mathematical theory of Measures and Integration.
Ever increasing role of mathematics into statistics has led to the development of a new branch of statistics called Mathematical Statistics.
Simply indicate the importance of statistics in the field of economics and in its different branches.
So we cannot think of Statistics without Economics or Economics without Statistics.
"Without an adequate understanding of the statistical methods, the investigators in the social sciences may be like the blind man groping in a dark room for a black cat that is not there. The methods of statistics are useful in an over-widening range of human activities in any field of thought in which numerical data may be had.".
The future trend of the market can only be expected if we make use of statistics.
Statistics is of utmost significance in determining prices of the various products, determining the phases of boom and depression etc.
Use of statistics helps in smooth running of the business, in reducing the uncertainties and thus contributes towards the success of business.
Statistics are everywhere basic to research activities.
Statistics makes the activities of a researcher definite and exact-both in his procedures and thinking.
Statistics systematizes the efforts of a researcher and leads him towards the goal.
Statistics enables us to summarize our results in meaningful and convenient form.
Statistics provides an unrivalled device for bringing order out of chaos, of seeing the general picture in one's results.
To the beginner, statistics should be regarded as a foreign language.
Statistics aims at developing computational skills within the students.
Every statistics is developed as a purely mathematical idea.
Statistics has been used very widely in Psychology and education too e.g., in the scaling of mental tests and other psychological data; for measuring the reliability and validity of tests scores ; for determining the Intelligence Quotient; in item analysis and factor analysis.
The only solution is the application of statistics in above mentioned areas.
The best part of statistics is that, 'how does it help a teacher in meeting the instructional or teaching objectives in classroom situations?' Thus, in the real sense, it is concerned with the organisation, analysis and interpretation of test scores and other numerical data.
Understand the statistics used in test manuals and research reports.
If a teacher has an elementary knowledge of statistical measures and its uses, certainly he will improve his effectiveness in teaching and thus statistics shall be a great help to him in his mission.
The descriptive statistics is concerned with describing or summarizing the numerical properties of data.
Sixteen century saw the application of Statistics for the collection of the data relating to the movements of heavenly bodies-stars and planets-to know about their position and for the prediction of Eclipses.
Captain John Graunt of London, known as the Father of Vital Statistics, was the first man to make a systematic study of the birth and death statistics.
Modern stalwarts in the development of the subject of Statistics are Englishmen who did pioneering work in the application of Statistics to different disciplines.
Perhaps most of the work in the statistical theory during the past few decades can be attributed to a single person Sir Ronald A. Fisher who applied statistics to a variety of diversified fields such as genetics, biometry, psychology and education, agriculture, etc.
Who is rightly termed as the Father of Statistics.
In singular sense statistics is used to describe the principles and methods which are employed in collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of data.
So this is quite comprehensive meaning and interpretation of the term statistics.
Boddington's definition also fails to describe the meaning and functions of statistics since it is confined to only probabilities and estimates.
King's definition is also inadequate since it confines statistics only to social sciences.
We give below some selected definitions of statistics as numerical data.
The definition of Statistics as given by Horace Secrist is most comprehensive and clearly points out certain essential characteristics which must be possessed by numerical data, in order to be called 'Statistics'.
Are called statistics and are studied in relation to each other.
Qualitative phenomena which cannot be numerically expressed, cannot be described as statistics e.g. honesty, goodness, ability, etc.
In order to have reasonable standard of accuracy statistics must be collected in a very systematic manner.
Statistics is a method for the purpose of comparison etc.
Statistics is a branch of science which is concerned with the study of variables that vary in unpredictable fashion and helps in providing an understanding of the phenomena and objects which show such variations.
As a matter of fact there are millions of people all over the world who have not heard a word about statistics and yet who make a profuse use of statistical methods in their day- to-day decisions.
The modern theory of Statistics has its foundations on the theory of probability which in turn is a particular branch of more advanced mathematical theory of Measures and Integration.
Ever increasing role of mathematics into statistics has led to the development of a new branch of statistics called Mathematical Statistics.
Simply indicate the importance of statistics in the field of economics and in its different branches.
So we cannot think of Statistics without Economics or Economics without Statistics.
"Without an adequate understanding of the statistical methods, the investigators in the social sciences may be like the blind man groping in a dark room for a black cat that is not there. The methods of statistics are useful in an over-widening range of human activities in any field of thought in which numerical data may be had.".
The future trend of the market can only be expected if we make use of statistics.
Statistics is of utmost significance in determining prices of the various products, determining the phases of boom and depression etc.
Use of statistics helps in smooth running of the business, in reducing the uncertainties and thus contributes towards the success of business.
Statistics are everywhere basic to research activities.
Statistics makes the activities of a researcher definite and exact-both in his procedures and thinking.
Statistics systematizes the efforts of a researcher and leads him towards the goal.
Statistics enables us to summarize our results in meaningful and convenient form.
Statistics provides an unrivalled device for bringing order out of chaos, of seeing the general picture in one's results.
To the beginner, statistics should be regarded as a foreign language.
Statistics aims at developing computational skills within the students.
Every statistics is developed as a purely mathematical idea.
Statistics has been used very widely in Psychology and education too e.g., in the scaling of mental tests and other psychological data; for measuring the reliability and validity of tests scores ; for determining the Intelligence Quotient; in item analysis and factor analysis.
The only solution is the application of statistics in above mentioned areas.
The best part of statistics is that, 'how does it help a teacher in meeting the instructional or teaching objectives in classroom situations?' Thus, in the real sense, it is concerned with the organisation, analysis and interpretation of test scores and other numerical data.
Understand the statistics used in test manuals and research reports.
If a teacher has an elementary knowledge of statistical measures and its uses, certainly he will improve his effectiveness in teaching and thus statistics shall be a great help to him in his mission.
The descriptive statistics is concerned with describing or summarizing the numerical properties of data.
Comments