MATH 101

Elementary Statistics for the Heal Sciences

Lecture 1
Introduction

LIZA T. BILLONES, MSc

Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics

College of Arts and Sciences
University of the Philippines Manila
Origin of Statistics

The word “statistics”

originated from the Latin
word “status” which means
state.
Statistics: Two Meanings
• Data or numbers derived from data
(e.g. average, percentage, etc.)

• A scientific body of knowledge that deals with

- collection
- organization and presentation
- summarization
- analysis and interpretation of data.
Descriptive vs Inferential
Descriptive Statistics
These are methods concerned with
summarizing a set of data. The numerical
summaries are used to describe the set of data.

Inferential Statistics
These are methods concerned with analyzing
a subset of data. The numerical summaries are
used to estimate or test hypothesis leading to
making generalizations of the entire set of data.
Descriptive vs Inferential

Descriptive Inferential
 Collect data  Collect data
 Organize/present  Organize/present
 Summarize  Summarize
 Analyze
Descriptive vs Inferential
1. Academic records of UPM for the past 5 years show
that 25% of Math 101 students failed.
Twenty five percent is a numerical summary.
It is used to describe.

2. Based on the academic records of UPM for the past 5

years showing that 25% of Math 101 students have
failed, a student in Math 101 this semester concludes
that the chance of passing the subject is 75%.
Here, 25% is used to estimate (predict or generalize) the
chance that a student would fail. And so the chance of
passing is 75%.
The first is descriptive, the second is inferential.
Inferential Statistics

Generalizations associated with statistical

inferences are always subject to uncertainties.

Why?
Exercise 1: Descriptive or Inferential?

1. On average, a person laughs 5 times each day.

2. In 2008, 34 journalists died in the line of duty.

3. The Philippines has 20 typhoons each year.

4. Girls are better than boys at reading.

5. Seven hundred thirty seven doctoral degrees in

neuroscience were awarded in the US in 2006.
Population and Parameter
Population is the totality of subjects under
consideration.

Parameter is any numerical summary which

describes a population.
i.e. all the population elements were
considered in the computation.

Ex. There are 4,321 students enrolled in

UPM this semester
in which 67% are males.The average age is 19.7yrs.

Population: UPM students this semester

Sample and Statistics
Sample is a portion of the population.

Statistic is any numerical summary which

describes a sample.
i.e. only some of the population elements were
considered in the computation
Ex. Some 200 UPM students enrolled this semester were
interviewed for a particular study. Sixty seven percent of
them are males.

Population: UPM students this semester

Sample: The 200 UPM students selected for the interview
Exercise 2: Parameter or Statistic?
1. There are 39 persons in the room.

2. More than 50% of UPM students are not in favor of dress code
policy.

3. The average weight of a group of 14 females is 122 lbs.

4. Eight percent of teen-age mothers die of child birth.

5. The youngest student in this class is 20 years old.

Subjects, Variables, and Data
Subjects are the elements of the population.
Variables are those characteristics of the subjects
which vary from one to another or from one point in
time to another point in time.

Data are the information gathered on the variables.

Examples:
Population: UPM students
Subjects: students
Variable: weekly allowance
Data: 500 200 1500 2000 800
Variables: Qualitative vs Quantitative
Qualitative (categorical or non-numerical)

These are characteristics which do not have

numerical values, only categories.

Examples:

Gender: Male or Female

Section: MHI, MHG, TFD

Variables: Qualitative vs Quantitative
Quantitative (numerical)

These are characteristics which have numerical

values.

Examples:

Age: 20 18 35 19

Weight (kg): 45 60 55.3

Exercise 3: Qualitative or Quantitative?
1. Class size: Small, Medium, Large
2. Class Size: 25, 32, 40, 28, 37
1. Amount of time used in assembling a toy:
3min, 1.5 min, 1.8min, 2.2min
4. Students’ Academic Performance
Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor
5. Students’ Academic Performance
100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 88, 75, etc.
6. Number of babies born in five minutes: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
7. Shoe size: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5
Quantitative: Discrete vs Continuous
Discrete
These require counting or enumeration.
The values are usually whole numbers.
Examples:
Class size: 34 40 25
No. of cellphones: 2 5 1

Continuous
These require measurement.
The values are any real number.
Examples:
Age: 20 18.2 19.51
Weight(kg): 45 50.2 47.32
Exercise 4: Discrete or Continuous?
1. Number of election-related violence.
2. Amount of time used in assembling a toy.
3. Number of babies born in five minutes.
4. Monthly charge for long distance calls.
5. Number of text books purchased.
6. Class size
7. Students’ Academic Peformance
8. Age
9. Weight
10. Blood Pressure
Classifying Variables or Data

Data

Categorical Numerical

Discrete Continuous
Levels of Measurements
1. Nominal
- differentiates or groups similar things according to
the categories of the variable

Examples

Color of Eyes: Black Blue Brown

Religion: Catholic INC Baptist
Course: MHI MHA MHB
Levels of Measurements
2. Ordinal
- differentiates or groups similar things according
to the categories of the variable
- ranks the categories

Examples

Size: S M L
Evaluation Rating: O VS S F P
Levels of Measurements
3. Interval
- differentiates or groups similar things according
to the categories of the variable
- ranks the categories
- determines differences in the values
(but the zero of the scale is arbitrary)

Examples
Test Scores: 0 56 98
Temperature in ° C and ° F: -3 0, 50, 90
Levels of Measurements
4. Ratio
- differentiates or groups similar things according
to the categories of the variable
- ranks the categories
- determines differences in the values
- makes meaningful ratios
(the zero of the scale is absolute)
Examples
Weight(kg): 0, 56, 98, 100
Temperature in °K: 0, 45, 70, 100
Exercise 5: Nominal/Ordinal/Interval/Ratio
1. Highest educational attainment obtained:
Elem, HS, Coll., etc.

2. Highest educational attainment obtained:

by number of full years

3. Contents of coke in cans (in ml.)

4. Shirt size: Small, Medium, Large

5. Temperature in oF

6. Population growth rate

7. Nationality
Exercise 5: Nominal/Ordinal/Interval/Ratio
8. Course Grade: 0, 1, 1.5, 2.0, …, 4.0

9. Course Grade: 0, 1, 2, …, 100

10. Cellphone Brand

11. IQ Level: Above Average, Average, etc.

12. IQ Score: 120, 100, etc.

13. Shoe size: 5, 7, 10 1/2, etc.

14. Daily Sales

15. Class size: 35, 41, 28, …

Variables: Dependent vs Independent
Dependent Variable is that which is being affected
by another variable.
Example: test scores
(on a study about factors affecting the
students’ academic performance)

Independent Variable is that which is affecting

another variable.
Example: number of hours studied
(affecting the academic performance)
Exercise 6: Which is the Independent Variable?
1. To determine the effect of the monthly family income on
the academic performance of the child.

2. To determine the effect of the type of school graduated

from on the salary on first employment.

3. To determine the effect of the mother’s educational

attainment and the father’s employment on the IQ Level
of the child.
4. To determine if a linear relationship exists between the
amount of capital and sales.

5. To determine the effect of I.Q. level on the academic

performance.
COOL DOWN!
1. 50% of UPM students watch ADDLOVE. (Parameter or
statistic)

2. 40% of Filipinos are in favor of BEENEI. (Descriptive or

Inferential?)

3. Shoe size. (Qualitative or Quantitative)

4. Hair length in centimeters. (Quantitative or Qualitative)

5. Number of text messages received. (Continuous or

Discrete)
COOL DOWN!
6. Temperature in Celcius. (Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio)

7. Temperature in Kelvin. (Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio)

8. Evaluation Ratings: O, VS, … .

(Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio)

9. Effect of dress color on mood of a person. (Dependent)

10. Relationship of value of car and age of car.

(Independent)