Skip to main content

Introduction to Statistical Thinking

Benjamin Yakir

Section 1.8 Summary

Subsection 1.8.1 Glossary

Data
🔗
A set of observations taken on a sample from a population.
🔗
Statistic
🔗
A numerical characteristic of the data. A statistic estimates the corresponding population parameter. For example, the average number of contribution to the course’s forum for this term is an estimate for the average number of contributions in all future terms (parameter).
🔗
Statistics
🔗
The science that deals with processing, presentation and inference from data.
🔗
Probability
🔗
A mathematical field that models and investigates the notion of randomness.
🔗
🔗

Subsection 1.8.2 R functions introduced in this chapter

  • setwd(dir) is used to set the working directory to dir.
    🔗
    🔗
  • c() is a generic function which combines its arguments.
    🔗
    🔗
  • save(..., file) writes R objects to the specified file.
    🔗
    🔗
  • load() reloads datasets written with the function save.
    🔗
    🔗
  • rm() can be used to remove objects.
    🔗
    🔗
  • table() constructs a table of counts of the different values.
    🔗
    🔗
  • plot() is a generic function for plotting of R objects.
    🔗
    🔗
🔗

Subsection 1.8.3 Discuss in the forum

A sample is a subgroup of the population that is supposed to represent the entire population. In your opinion, is it appropriate to attempt to represent the entire population only by a sample?
🔗
When you formulate your answer to this question it may be useful to come up with an example of a question from you own field of interest one may want to investigate. In the context of this example you may identify a target population which you think is suited for the investigation of the given question. The appropriateness of using a sample can be discussed in the context of the example question and the population you have identified.
🔗
🔗
🔗
PrevTopNext