Week 1 - Sampling and Data
Introduction to Statistics: Sampling Methods
Why
We live in a society where important decisions are made by popular opinion and reliable estimates are worth a lot of money. It is often not practical to collect data for an entire population, for example the US census costs $13 billion to complete. In most situations sampling methods are used and they comprise the first step in our inferential statistics procedure.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the basic terminology used in the study of Statistics.
- Understand the common sampling methods (cluster, convenience, random, stratified, and systematic)
- Understand the process for creating frequency tables
Performance Criteria
- The learner will use the correct vocabulary when communicating with the instructor or other students about Statistics.
- The learner will identify and justify appropriate sampling methods for hypothetical studies.
- The learner will collect samples using the five common methods and provide explanations for how they were determined.
- The learner will create and interpret frequency and relative frequency tables from raw data.
Note: Always begin by familiarizing yourself with the terminology for the week's experience.
Click on "Textbook" to view the reading assignment for this week's experience or read sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, & 1.4 from your print or digital copy.
Note: Various versions of the text can be found through the links in the Course Information folder.
Each Week will feature videos by the author that serve as a supplement to the class lectures.
Chapter 1 (This is a video by the author covering chapter 1.)
Note: Methodologies are procedures for solving problems. When they appear, follow them for relevant assignments.
Here are some websites that you will find useful in this section and later.
- Statkey - tools for visualizing descriptive and inferential statistics
- Google Sheets
Tutorial Resources
Plan
- Review - Read the above components and post any questions in the forum below.
- Practice - Complete the practice exercises that follow.
- Think - Answer the Critical Thinking questions in the "Critical Thinking" forum.
- Apply - Complete the Application Problems and upload your completed file
- Assess - Complete the Practice Self-Assessment for this Week's Experience.
If you have any questions about the content (readings, problems, etc.) then post in the "Questions about Week 1" forum.
Models are high quality work that should be used as examples when completing the applications. These are videos made by the instructor showing how to use technology to complete the processes in this week's experience. Make sure to report any errors.
Random Sampling Overview (Google Sheets)
Simple Random Sampling (Excel)
Frequency Distributions in Google Sheets
Relative Frequency Distribution
TI-84 Stuff
Note: Sometimes Applications will use data sets. These files will be put with the application assignment into folders, such as the one below. If the file is not expanded then click on it to expand it.
This spreadsheet contains a data table on mammal longevity for use in this week's application on sampling methods.
From Google Sheets, Make a copy, or Download as an Excel sheet, or viewing the table work it out by hand.
Here is a survey to take. We will explore this data over the next two weeks.
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