LECTURE 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of statistics?
Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, presenting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
What is data?
Quantitative figures used for analysis, such as rainfall, farmers in a block, or area under crops.
What are the five main processes in statistics?
- Collection of data 2. Organization of data 3. Presentation of data 4. Analysis of data 5. Interpretation of data.
Give an example of data.
Examples: Number of farmers in a block, rainfall over a period, or area under paddy crop.
What are the main functions of statistics?
Simplifies complexity, presents facts, helps in policy formulation, facilitates comparisons, and aids forecasting.
List some uses of statistics.
Administration, industry, business, economics, research, banking, insurance, and more.
What are the limitations of statistics?
- Applicable only with variability 2. Deals with groups, not individuals 3. Results are not exact 4. Susceptible to misuse.
What is raw data?
Information collected through censuses, surveys, or other means before classification.
What are the two types of data?
- Primary data 2. Secondary data.
What is primary data?
Data collected by direct observation, measurement, or count.
What is secondary data?
Data compiled from existing records, reports, or other sources.
List methods to collect primary data.
- Direct personal interviews 2. Indirect oral interviews 3. Information from correspondents 4. Mailed questionnaire 5. Schedules through enumerators.
What is the main merit of direct personal interviews?
Collected data is uniform and accurate since doubts can be clarified in person.
What is the limitation of direct personal interviews?
Costly and time-consuming for large, widespread populations.
What is the advantage of mailed questionnaires?
Economical, suitable for wide areas, and fast if responses are timely.
What is the limitation of mailed questionnaires?
Cannot be used for illiterate informants and suffers from non-response.
What are the merits of schedules sent through enumerators?
Reliable data, minimal non-response, and usable for illiterate informants.
What are the two sources of secondary data?
- Published sources 2. Unpublished sources.
What are some published sources of secondary data?
Government publications, trade journals, reports from commissions, research organizations, and international bodies.
What are the characteristics of good secondary data?
Reliable, adequate, suitable, accurate, complete, and consistent.
What is quantitative data?
Data measured in numerical terms like weight (kg) or height (cm).
What is qualitative data?
Data based on characteristics or attributes like crop varieties or soil type.
What is the purpose of data classification?
To organize data into groups or classes based on shared characteristics.
What are the four types of data classification?
- Geographical 2. Chronological 3. Qualitative 4. Quantitative.
What is geographical classification?
Data organized based on location or region, e.g., area under crops by state.
What is chronological classification?
Data organized based on time, e.g., yearly production.
What is qualitative classification?
Data organized based on attributes, e.g., type of farmers by land holdings.
What is quantitative classification?
Data organized by magnitude, e.g., farmers grouped by land size.
What are the two types of qualitative classification?
- Simple classification 2. Manifold classification.
What is simple classification?
Classification based on one attribute, e.g., cultivable land categorized as rainfed or irrigated.
What is manifold classification?
Classification based on more than one attribute, e.g., land categorized by both crop type and irrigation method.
What is the difference between primary and secondary data in terms of originality?
Primary data is original; secondary data is derived from existing records.
What is the difference between primary and secondary data in terms of cost?
Primary data is costly; secondary data is less expensive.
What are the advantages of tabulation?
Simplifies data, enables comparisons, and aids in analysis and interpretation.
What are the characteristics of a good table?
Clarity, simplicity, completeness, accuracy, and proper organization.
Define primary data with an example.
Data collected firsthand, e.g., counting the number of farmers in a block.
Define secondary data with an example.
Data compiled from records, e.g., area statistics from government reports.
What is the main difference between raw and grouped data?
Raw data is unorganized, while grouped data is arranged into classes.
A simple table contains data on what?
One characteristic.
When data is grouped with reference to time, it is called what?
Chronological classification.
What does geographical classification organize data by?
Region.
An arrangement of data into rows and columns is known as what?
Tabulation.
Data on yield is an example of which type of variable?
Quantitative variable.
What are qualitative variables also called?
Attributes.
