This document defines key terms used in statistics such as population, sample, parameter, statistic, data, variable, and classifications of data and variables. A population is the total set of observations, a sample is a subset of a population, a parameter describes characteristics of the population, and a statistic describes characteristics of a sample. Data constitutes the information gathered from what is being studied, and can be univariate, bivariate, or multivariate. Variables are characteristics that can change or be measured and can be quantitative, taking numerical values, or qualitative, being categorized without numbers.

1. TERMS USED IN
STATISTICS

2. POPULATION
Totality of the
observations.
Complete set of all
possible
observations

3. SAMPLE
Subset of a
population

5. PARAMETER
Numerical value
that describes a
characteristic of
population
Usually uses a “N”

6. STATISTIC
Numerical value
describing a
characteristic of a
sample

7. DATA
Constitutes the
information
gathered from the
elements under
investigation

8. CLASSIFICATIONS OF
DATA
UNIVARIATE DATA (Single
variable)
BIVARIATE DATA (Two
variables)
MULTIVIARIATE DATA (More
than two variables)

9. VARIABLE
A characteristic that
changes overtime
Observable
characteristic that
can be measured or
classified

10. TWO TYPES OF
VARIABLE

11. QUANTITATIVE VARIABLE
Values that assume
numerical values

12. QUALITATIVE VARIABLE
Values that can be categorized
according to some distinct
characteristic
Has no numerical value

13. CLASSIFICATION OF QUANTITATIVE
VARIABLE
Discrete Variable
 Can only assume or finite
number of values
Continuous Variable
 Can only assume or finite
number of values