Statistics: Decisions Through Data

Episodes in this Series

101. What Is Statistics?

A puzzle graphic introduces the ideas that statistics is a way of solving puzzles using data, and that statistics can be divided into three main areas: describing data, producing data, and drawing conclusions from data. Brief stories illustrate each aspect of statistics.

102. Stemplots

Variable is defined as any numerical quantity that takes different values for different people or things. The distribution of a variable is a pattern of values. The stemplot is described as a graphical method of looking at the overall patterns of data. An application is presented in which TV executives decide which programs to show.

103. Histograms

The video uses graphics to briefly show how to make a histogram, with emphasis on how to choose the classes. The example of graphing the number of cars passing a school shows that classes are a matter of judgment. More information is given on patterns of distribution as skewness is considered.

104. Measures of Center

The documentary story that motivates the statistical content is concerned with the pay of male and female workers. As histograms display male and female earnings, the median and the mean are introduced as alternative methods of comparing data. On-screen graphics present the recipe for calculating the median.

105. Boxplots

A measure of spread or variability is presented with the use of boxplots. Building upon the concept of quartiles and midpoints, the strategy of the five-number summary leads to inspection for skewed distribution. Boxplots don't show distribution in detail, but they are useful for comparing several distributions.

106. Standard Deviation

The concept of the standard deviation is explained as a function of variance: The distribution of normal readings shows the spread or variability. Animated graphics show the recipe for calculating variance and standard deviation. The process is demonstrated using a review of blood tests and a musical readout from a computer, where sour notes signify non-standard deviation of the data.

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This program relates to the following Kentucky Academic Expectations.

2.12	Mathematical Structure
2.13	Statistics and Probability