Statistics - Defining in Simple Words

The word 'statistics' can be considered both as a singular and plural. When used as the subject, Statistics questions is singular ?. But when used as numerical data (a collection of numbers) it becomes plural.

In day- to- day usage the word  Statistics tutor appears only as a collection of numerical values. We talk about statistics of test cricket, or statistics of voting in general elections, etc. Here it is the numerical details which give light to the results in related program.

When used as a subject it may be defined as the science which deals with the collection, classification, representation, analysis and interpretation of numerical data. Here this definition is based on the subject's various functions. First the data are to be collected depending on the problem under study. The collection has to be done 'randomly' and suiting to the nature of the population, otherwise the data collected may not be representing the population.

The data collected will be only a set of numbers or some other facts which are to be coded and made numerical figures, because, Statistics answers methods can be applied only in numerical data. These collected unorganized numbers are to be arranged in a systematic manner in order to elicit better information, for this purpose classification is done. Representation is possible using tables or diagrams. Numerical representative values such as average, measure of spread of data, etc., will help understanding ithe data n a better manner. Further suitable analysis, if necessary, will also be carried out in order to arrive at useful interpretation of the problem.

These procedures make it clear that Statistics help deals with quantitative data only. But, then, how is it different from Mathematical problems. What way the mathematical and statistical variables (observations) are different? The adjective 'random' is applied with statistical variables, unlike in the case of mathematical variables. This indicates that the observations are occurring randomly, or following a probability principle.

A simple example, perhaps, may make it clearer. If in a problem, the length of one side of a square is given as five meters and is asked to find the area of the square, very easily the answer is obtained as 25 square meters. This is a mathematical problem. A known formula helps to get the answer. But in another problem the height of a boy is to be found out whose age is given as 5 years. Here, to get an answer, one has to take a representative sample of boys belonging to age group 5 and get an average of their height measurements. Definitely, the value obtained will depend on the sample chosen. In this example the observation is random. So it is a Statistics problems, where as the first one is a mathematical one.

When dealing with natural studies, one has to apply free Statistics help techniques since the data are random by definition. Very often mathematical models are developed to study natural phenomena without giving due care to the nature of data handled. Use of statistical models under such situations, though difficult to handle, might be giving better results.