Research Topics: Use Of Statistics

Essay on the Use of Statistics

Managing Information Module Part A: Essay on the Use of Statistics    “Do not put your faith in what statistics say Until you have carefully considered what they do not say.”                                                                                           ~William W. Watt   Introduction             What do we know about all the data given to us? What do numerical figures try to imply? How will the results change the perception of the people? There are still many questions that bother the mind of each individual who encountered such statistical information. Despite of the organized presentation of data, most of the people still find each statistics a sore in their eyes.             There are many people who know statistics literally, but unfortunately there are still also a great number of people who didn’t know the real purpose of statistics. Aside from the data and values that each statistical figure shows, there is still ambiguity behind it. Statistics plays a very significant role in the life of most people. Although it is often sought merely as a mathematical science that is offers confusion and complications. The real purpose of statistics is being misinterpreted due to the wrong concepts being impose with it over the past decades.             The reliability of the information that has been gathered through statistics depends on the source as well as the method that has been used. In some cases, figures tend to be false and incoherent because of the invalidity of the data that have been gathered. The Overview with Statistics             Aside from the countless meaning of statistics, it is simply defined as the collection, interpretation and organization of numerical data. The process of the application of statistics begins with distinguishing the appropriate population. The population should be composed of the people who are completely relevant with the problem. It should be consists of a portion of the whole subject to be studied since the acquiring the entire population as the subject will only require extensive complication and very much time consuming. In choosing the right volume of the population, it would be advisable that this particular group will practice honesty and will show liability because the study would not imply good results if they will not participate well.             After distinguishing the appropriate sample, the data gathered will be analyzed and summarized. In analyzing and summarizing the data, there are two methods to be used, either descriptive or inferential. Descriptive aims to describe the sample, whether beyond its characteristics or properties. The inferential on the other hand, uses model patterns in the data. In this case there is an unknown aspect in the population and to be able to make an inference, statistics is used.  The significance of both methods depends on the results of all the gathered information.  The continuity of the record and the comparability of the recorded data are essential.  Therefore the appropriate statistical methods must be adapted to the different types of statistical data.     The Role of Statistics             Statistics have a variety of purposes. In fact, its purpose relies on a particular group that will use it. However, there are still distinctions regarding the uses of statistics. Statistics are useful in creating comparisons among the data given. Such comparison may lead to further understandings of the things being compared. However, the things to be compared by the means of the quantitative measures should be really comparable.   Statistics and the Students             Most students find it hard to understand statistics. To minimize the problem arising on how to make the learning of statistics more interesting to them, the advancement of technology is being imparted with the concept of statistics.              The influence of technology has changed the way statistics are being taught and learned. It has been reported that with the application of technology in various operation, a conceptual learning is facilitated. Most of the students have been given the opportunity to explore the meaning of statistical concepts by the use of computer simulation. Computers are perfect tool for them to visualize difficult notions of statistics. And as a result, the learning experience of the students was enhanced (Mills, 2004).             Statistics is composed of several methods and formulas to obtain the solution to the problem. Somehow the computers perform these tasks especially the numerical computations. However, the conflict with this is that, computers data are not always that accurate. This is because they only perform the task according to the method being that they are capable of doing. If the inputted data within the computer shows inaccuracy, the computer cannot the nature of the data anymore. The responsibility of the data’s status will rely on the user.   Statistics and the Government                                           The method of statistics is widely use by the government. It is use to measure governments’ progression and its stability. In analyzing the economic growth of a government, usually, a study is being conducted within a certain population. For example, the measurement of poverty, with the use of statistics, the probable causes of this problem would be distinguished and in an early time, the government official may seek for the proper solution for that. However, the solution will definitely base on the result of the statistics. More often, comparisons from previous results are also being practice with this kind of analysis. With such comparisons the government will be able to distinguish relevant issues regarding the problem in poverty. As a result they will be capable of implementing such solution to the problem. The same is true with other problems that the government is facing such as population, unemployment, crime rate etc. These problems often sought statistical analysis.   Statistics and the Industry             Another role of the statistics is to gather information based on the outcome of an industry’s performance. Usually, a particular business relies on the result of each research information so that the will come up with an appropriate method to be able to utilized a further growth within their business. An industry’s growth is merely affected by many factors within the environment. Take for example the economic situation right now. Many industries are greatly affected by the continuous fluctuation of the petroleum products. In this case, many industries, particularly the one that is connected with it will surely encounter a lot of crisis. They can come up with a particular research study that will obtained valid information that will help them resolve some more upcoming problems.   Statistical Literacy             Statistics have always been involved in our everyday lives. All the information brought to us by newspapers, televisions, and even the internet, provide us a glimpse of statistical figures. However, there are certain instances that we failed to understand the things these things. It is quite alarming but true, that there is an illiteracy regarding the concept of statistics.             Statistical literacy is a term used to indicate an individual’s or group’s ability to understand statistics. Most of the time, numerical claims are use to sustain discussions, that is why the statistical literacy is a very necessary skill to help an individual decide whether the information is authentic or not. Its aim is to improve further the public understanding of numbers and figures.       Misuse of Statistics             The misuse of statistics can be accidental but often, it occurs because of the falsehood of the statistical argument. The falsehood is lead due to the failure of interpreting the gathered information well. Critics often define statistics as lie. This is because the results of all the data gathered from such studies have a higher tendency to be manipulated. In the case of data dredging, this practice becomes inappropriate because it involves the sorting and picking out relevant information. It somehow abuses the process of data mining. The data are examined without any hypothesis being pre-defined to be tested. Apparently, data dredging is a valid way of searching for possible hypothesis however that hypothesis must then be tested with the data not used in the original dredging. This process may lead to being misuse of statistics if the hypothesis is stated as a fact without further validation (‘Data Dredging’2008).             Other misuses of statistics are due the wrong uses of percentage, neglect of other factors and biasing influence of previous convictions. Statistics is more than figures and to discriminate between the true and the false inference drawn from the figures requires the exercise of the critical faculties and training in scientific methods(Chaddock,1925)               Qualitative Research Method             The qualitative research method increases the understanding of what is happening, who are affected in which ways and analyses why particular impacts are occurring. Qualitative method is necessary to investigate more complex and sensitive facts which is obviously difficult to quantify. It explores attitudes, behavior and experiences through methods such as interviews or focus groups. What the qualitative research is trying to provide is to get an in-depth opinion of each participants. The connection gained with these people will tend to create much more understanding about the whole study (‘Qualitative Method’2008).             Another thing about qualitative research is that It is often less costly because unlike the qualitative research, which uses survey to achieve information massively, the qualitative research only acquires the information beyond the particular set or group of people which made it more subjective rather than objective.              Quantitative Research Method             Data would be nonsense if they are not properly distinguished and arranged. There are a lot of data is gathered everyday. Statistics, however measures mass phenomena and the individual items and then arranged it in proper groupings and relations according to their similarities and differences. Through the use of the large scale survey research, the quantitative research generates the statistics. Questionnaires or structured interviews are such methods that are used to gain more number of people then it is being followed by the application of either descriptive or inferential statistical methods. The quantitative method tends to be deductive, meaning it tests theory in contrast with the qualitative method (Sanchez,2006).   Conclusion             Despite of the irregularities that is perceive by the statistics, it is still essential to life of many people. Based on the information given in the previous pages of this paper, the authenticity of the results of each statistical analysis is greatly affected by the way the information and data are collected. Another affecting factor of the way the results are being interpreted. These things may lead to the misuse of the statistics.             However, all of the things that are not properly planned will definitely result to undesirable results. The only key to this is that before anything else, there should be a distinctive plan of the activity, either it is on gathering of information or analyzing data through graphs and tables. All of these things should be planned according to the proper way of handling out such studies. With the correct plan, errors will be eliminated and misconception regarding the facts and opinions will somehow be avoided.                           Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Essay on the Use of Statistics

Managing Information Module Part A: Essay on the Use of Statistics “Do not put your faith in what statistics say Until you have care...