To obtain data on the state of society, a whole complex of sciences is used. One of them is statistics. What is she like?
What is statistics?
This is the name of the branch of knowledge, where they pose general questions on the collection, measurement and analysis of mass (quantitative or qualitative) data. Statistics also studies the quantitative side of social mass phenomena in terms of their numerical form. This word comes from the Latin status, which means "state of affairs." Initially, this science was called "State Studies."
For the first time, the term “statistics” was used in 1746, and this moment laid the foundation for such an academic discipline and science. True, it cannot be said that with this its direct use began, since accounting, measurement and analysis of data were carried out much earlier. An important parameter is the mod. Something similar can be remembered from geometry, but this is not quite right. But what is a mod in statistics? This is the name of the value from the linear series, which occurs most often.
Examples
Let's talk about something closer to reality. What are website page statistics? This parameter can be the number of users who went to the resource and had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with its contents. True, from this point of view it will be difficult to answer the question of what are the statistics of VKontakte.
Separate information for each page is not collected. But counting the number of users that log in per day, a month - in general, constantly. This is the answer to the question of what statistics are in practice in information technology.
Types of grouping
Within the framework of a scientific discipline, one population is divided into separate groups, which are homogeneous in a certain respect. To calculate the number of intervals when there is no clear frame, the Sturges formula is often used:
CHI = 1 + 3.322 * log BH, where
- CHI is the number of integrals;
- Lg is the logarithm;
- CN is the number of observations.
Depending on the objectives, three types of groupings are distinguished:
- Analytical. Used to identify relationships between groups.
- Typological. The study population is divided into homogeneous groups.
- Structural. The division into homogeneous associations is carried out on the basis of a clear sign.
A typical group should strive to be as different as possible from the others and to be the most similar within themselves. They are primary and secondary. The former are formed during statistical observation. Secondary groupings are done based on the data received.
Classification of statistical methods
They found their application almost everywhere. Therefore, it is logical to assume that there is no universal tool. Depending on the specificity and immersion in specific problems, the following statistical methods of data analysis are distinguished:
- Development and research of general-purpose tools that do not take into account the characteristics of the scope.
- Creation and use of statistical models of some real phenomenon or process in a certain field of activity.
- Development and use of methods and tools to analyze specific data for solving applied problems.
Applied Statistics
This branch of science is concerned with the processing of data of an arbitrary nature. The mathematical basis of applied statistics and its analysis methods are mathematical statistics and probability theory. It all starts with a description of the type of data obtained, as well as the mechanism of their origin. For this, probabilistic and deterministic methods are used. The latter can be used only in cases where the researcher has enough data (an example is the reports of state statistics bodies, which are based on information provided by enterprises). But to transfer the result to a larger scale and evaluate the prospects can only be using probabilistic-statistical modeling.
In the simplest situation, the available data acts as the value of a particular attribute that is characteristic of the object under study. The parameters here are quantitative or indicative (depending on the category to which they belong). The second option usually speaks of a qualitative characteristic. But what if we take a few of them? Or add quantitative? Then we can say that the object vector is obtained. It is considered as a new type of data. In large-scale studies, the samples are composed of several sets of vectors. It is important to clarify and recheck the information received. Re-sampling is used for this.
Conclusion
As you can see, statistics allow you to structure significant amounts of data that are necessary for the possibility of providing information about the situation in certain areas. So, it plays an important role for investors, as it provides an opportunity to monitor the dynamics of growth of state economies. Of interest is statistics for citizens and authorities, telling them about the processes in the country: demographic growth or crisis, increasing wealth or falling, and so on.