Statistics

Introduction
• Statistics is generally used to mean quantitative aspects of
data management but as a subject of study it refers to body
Introduction of principles and procedures developed for collection,
classification, summarization and meaningful interpretation
and for the use of such data.
•The discipline is useful in converting random data to
understandable information and aids in strategic business
decision making.
Statistics has its origin in Latin word Status, Italian word
Statista and German term Statistik all of which mean
Origin “Political State”. In ancient times the beginning of Statistics
was made to meet the requirements of State primarily and
hence the name.

The term Statistics is generally used in 2 senses-

1.Plural Sense
Meaning
2. Singular Sense
1
Statistics
Meaning-Plural
Under this, the Statistics refers to numerical statement of facts
related to any field of enquiry such as data related to income,
Plural sense expenditure, population etc
in the sense of numerical data or Statistical data.

Definitions- “Statistics are numerical statements of facts in any

department of enquiry placed in relation to each other”-Bowley
Definitions
for “By statistics we mean quantitative data affected to a marked extent
Plural sense by multiplicity of cause”- Yule and Kendall

1.Aggregation of facts- A single number does not constitute

Statistics as no conclusion can be drawn from it. Only the
aggregate of facts capable of offering meaningful information
Features in constitute Statistics.
Plural 2.Numerically expressed- Statistics are expressed in
Sense numbers. Qualitative data like rich, poor, beautiful, big etc
cannot be termed Statistics.
Contd….

2
Statistics
Meaning-Plural
3. Affected by Multiple causes- Statistics is not impacted
by only 1 factor as multitude of factors influence it. For e.g
rise in prices can be attributed to reduction in supply,
increase in demand, rise in input costs etc.
4.Reasonable Accuracy- A reasonable degree of accuracy
must be maintaining while collecting the statistical data.
5.Placed in relation to others- Such data is called
Statistics which is mutually related and comparable. Height
of 40 people cannot be compared with age of 40 people as
Features in data is not related.
Plural sense 6.Pre-determined purpose- Data collected without any
purpose or randomly will only be a numerical value and not
Statistics.
7.Enumerated or Estimated- Data can either be collected
by estimation (if the field of investigation is very vast) or
enumeration (for smaller set of data).
8.Collected in systematic manner- Haphazardly collected
data will not provide conclusive evidence so systematic
collection should be planned beforehand.

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Statistics
Meaning-Singular
Under this, Statistics refers to science in which we deal with
techniques and methods for collecting, classifying, presenting,
Singular
analyzing and interpreting the data
sense in the meaning of Statistical methods.

Definitions- “Statistics may be defined as the collection, presentation,

analysis and interpretation of numerical data.”-Croxton and Cowden
Definitions “Statistics is the science which deals with the collection, classification
and tabulation of numerical facts as a basis for the explanation,
description and comparison of phenomena- Lovitt

Given the definitions, the following stages of Statistics emerge-

1.Collection of data- Decide how, where, when, what kind of data to
Features in be collected.
2.Organization of data- Organize the collected data to make it
Singular comparable and simple.
sense 3.Presentation of data- Make the data intelligible, brief and attractive.
4.Analysis of data- To draw conclusions, analysis of data is required
by different methods e.g. central tendency, correlation.
5.Interpretation of data- Comparison and conclusions in simple and
easy language.
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Scope Statistics
The scope of Statistics may be classified into following 3 parts-

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The study of nature is to find out whether Statistics is Science or Art
Nature As a science- It studies the Statistical data
As a Art- It makes use of data to solve problems of real
life.
The subject matter of statistics is divided into 2 parts-
1.Descriptive statistics- It describes the data and consists of methods and
Subject techniques to explain characteristics of data. The methods can either be
Matter graphical or computational.
2.Inferential Statistics- It deals with methods which describe the
characteristics of population or making decisions concerning population on the
basis of sample results. Contd…. 5
Scope Statistics
1. Study of Numerical facts-Statistics can only study such facts
which can be expressed in numerical terms.
2. Study of Aggregates only- Statistics studies only the aggregates
and not particular unit. No conclusion is possible from single piece
of data.
3. Not the only method- Statistics is not the only method to study
and many a time does not suggest the best solution of each
problem.
4. Homogeneity of data- Quantitative data has to be consistent and
Limitati homogeneous otherwise it will not be possible to draw conclusions.
ons 5. Results are true only on an average- Statistical results only
express tendencies and are true on an average and not absolutely.
6. Without reference results may prove wrong- Circumstances
and conditions under which conclusions are made have to be
studied otherwise the results may give wrong impression.
7. Can be used by experts only- Only experts can make good use
of statistics and unqualified would find it difficult to apply it.
8. Misuse of Statistics is possible- The misuse of Statistics to seek
particular results is a possibility, more so when it is not easily
understood.
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Functions Statistics
1. Expression of facts in numbers-One of the main function of
Statistics is to express numbers in easily understandable language
and interpret the results with certainty.
2. Simple presentation- Statistics enables presentation of complex
data in a simple format in terms of aggregate, average,
percentage, graphs, diagrams etc.
3. Enlarges individual knowledge and experience- Statistics
expands the horizons of individual knowledge and understanding.
4. It compares facts- It facilitates the comparison of data and
identifying the interrelations between large sets of data for drawing
suitable inferences.
5. Facilitates policy formulation- By doing analysis and
interpretation of data, precise nature of problem can be
ascertained thus assisting policy formulation.
6. It helps other science in testing their laws- Statistics helps other
laws for establishing their assumptions. E.g. Many laws of
economics namely law of demand, law of supply, Keynes theory of
employment can be verified by Statistics.
7. It helps in forecasting- Extrapolating present data aids in
forecasting likely changes that can be expected in future.
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Uses & Importance Statistics
1. Importance for administrators- Administrators use data for
varied purposes and Statistics provide useful tools for decision
making support.
2. Importance for business, industry and agriculture- Estimating
demand and supply, studying seasonal changes, understanding
trade cycles, consumer profiling, product life cycle analysis are
examples of some of the functions that Statistics can perform for
business, industry and agriculture.
3. Importance in Economics- Statistics is basis of Economics as it
helps establishing the assumptions. Almost all the economic
aggregates are measured with the help of Statistics.
4. Importance for Politicians and in Social field- For formulating
social, economic, educational, industrial and other policies,
politicians draw great support from Statistics discipline.
Existing social problems can only be brought to fore front with the
help of data analysis. The effectiveness of existing policies for
social change can be measured by statistical tools.
5. Importance for banking and insurance industry- Bankers use
statistics for estimating credit growth, risk analysis, portfolio
management and insurers for establishing appropriate premiums
looking at life expectancies. 8
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