What is statistics?

Statistics is a set of methods that is used to collect, summarize, classify, analyze

and interpret the behavior of data with respect to a characteristic, subject of study
or research. Statistics is considered as a collection of numerical facts expressed in
a summative way, and which have been compiled from other numerical data. It is
considered as the visual and analytical calculation of the different types of samples
that are found in a population, it is a special technique suitable for quantitative
study and it is considered as one of the sciences of great utility in the economic,
social and natural.
Why is statistics studied?
Statistics allows us to provide the basic elements to support an investigation, how
to plan the obtaining of the data so that reliable conclusions can be drawn, how to
analyze this data, what kind of conclusions can be obtained with the available data,
what is the confidence that we deserve the data. Statistics, as can be seen, allows
us to carry out descriptive and explanatory studies practically in all areas, through
which we can know the numerical and descriptive situation of a company,
community, business, among others.
Types of statistics
Descriptive: It is the technique that will be responsible for the collection,
presentation, treatment and analysis of data, in order to summarize, describe the
characteristics of a data set and usually take the form of tables and graphs.
Inferential: Technique by which conclusions or generalizations about parameters of
a population are drawn. It draws useful conclusions about all of the possible
observations based on the information collected and is considered as hypothetical
calculations.
Types of variables
Qualitative variables
They are the type of variables that, as the name implies, express different qualities,
characteristics or modalities. Each modality that is presented is called an attribute
or category, and the measurement consists of a classification of these attributes.
Qualitative variables can be dichotomous when they can only take two possible
values, such as yes and no, male and female or be polytomous when they can
acquire three or more values. Within them we can distinguish:
Qualitative ordinal variable or quasi-quantitative variable: The variable can take
different values ordered according to an established scale, although it is not
necessary for the interval between measurements to be uniform, for example: mild,
moderate, strong.
Nominal qualitative variable: In this variable values can not be subjected to a
criterion of order, such as colors or the place of registration

Quantitative variables
Are the variables that take as an argument numerical quantities, are mathematical
variables. The quantitative variables can also be:
Discrete variable: It is the variable that presents separations or interruptions in the
scale of values that it can take. These separations or interruptions indicate the
absence of values between the different specific values that the variable can
assume. Example: The number of children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Continuous variable: The variable that can acquire any value within a specified
range of values. For example the mass (2.3 kg, 2.4 kg, 2.5 kg, ...) or the height
(1.64 m, 1.65 m, 1.66 m, ...), or the salary. It is only limited by the accuracy of the
measuring device, in theory they allow a value to exist between two variables.
Measurement Levels
The measurement levels are the nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scales. They
are used to help in the classification of the variables, the design of the questions to
measure variables, and even indicate the type of statistical analysis appropriate for
the treatment of the data.

An essential characteristic of the measurement is its dependence on the possibility

of variation. The validity and reliability of the measurement of a variable depends
on the decisions made to operationalize it and achieve an adequate understanding
of the concept avoiding imprecision and ambiguity, otherwise the variable runs the
inherent risk of being invalidated because it does not produces reliable information

a) Nominal Measurement.
At this level of measurement, distinctive categories are established that do not
imply a specific order. For example, if the unit of analysis is a group of people, to
classify them you can establish the sex category with two levels, masculine (M)
and feminine (F), the respondents only have to indicate their gender, it is not
required a real order.
Thus, if numbers are assigned to these levels they only serve for identification and
can be indistinct: 1 = M, 2 = F or, the numbers can be inverted without affecting the
measurement: 1 = F and 2 = M. In summary, on the nominal scale, numbers are
assigned to events with the purpose of identifying them. There is no quantitative
reference. It serves to name the units of analysis in an investigation and is used in
prisons, schools, sports, etc. The logical relationship expressed is: A B (A is
different from B).

b) Ordinal measurement.

Categories are established with two or more levels that imply an inherent order
among them. The ordinal measurement scale is quantitative because it allows
ordering events according to the greater or lesser possession of an attribute or
characteristic. For example, in elementary school institutions, students are usually
trained by stature, a quantitative order is developed but no measures are provided
by the subjects. The logical relationship expressed by this scale is A B (A is
greater than B). Classifying a group of people by the social class to which they
belong implies a prescribed order that goes from the highest to the lowest. These
scales allow the assignment of numbers according to a prescribed order.

The most common forms of ordinal variables are attitudinal (reactive) items,
establishing a series of levels that express an attitude of agreement or
disagreement with respect to some referent. For example, before the item: The
Mexican economy should be dollarized, the respondent can mark his answer
according to the following alternatives:

___ Totally agree

___ In agreement

___ Indifferent

___ In disagreement

___ Strongly disagree

c) Interval Measurement.

The interval measurement has the characteristics of nominal and ordinal

measurement. It establishes the distance between one measure and another. The
interval scale applies to continuous variables but lacks an absolute zero point. The
most representative example of this type of measurement is a thermometer, when
it registers zero degrees of temperature it indicates the level of freezing of water
and when it registers 100 degrees centigrade indicates the boiling level, the zero
point is arbitrary not real, which means that at this point there is no absence of
temperature.
A person who in a mathematics test that obtains a score of zero does not mean
that he lacks knowledge, the zero point is arbitrary because the measured
characteristic still exists.

d) Reason Measurement.
A ratio measurement scale includes the characteristics of the previous three levels
of measurement (nominal, ordinal and interval). Determine the exact distance
between the intervals of a category. Additionally, it has an absolute zero point, that
is, at the zero point there is no characteristic or attribute that is measured. The
variables of income, age, number of children, etc. They are examples of this type
of scale. The level of reason measurement applies to both continuous and discrete
variables.