Statistics is a mathematical science pertaining to the collection, analysis, interpretation or explanation, and presentation of data.
There are 2 main ways of representing descriptive statistics:
- Numerical statistics
Some numbers are more meaningful than others. For example, if you are offered a purchase price of $1 for a car on the condition that you also buy a second car, the price of the second car would be a major consideration (its price could be $1,000,000 or only $1,000), and thus, the average—or mean—of the two prices would be the more important statistic.
- Pictorial statistics
Taking numerical data and presenting it in pictures or graphs is what is known as pictorial statistics. Showing data in the form of a graphic can make complex and confusing information appear more simple and straightforward.
Inferential statistics are usually the most important part of a dissertation's statistical analysis. Inferential statistics are used to allow a researcher to make statistical inferences, that is draw conclusions about the data.
There are two main types of Inferential Statistics:
- Estimation
- Hypothesis testing