1. STA 291 Fall 2009
Lecture 2
Dustin Lueker

2. Basic Terminology Parameter Statistic
Numerical characteristic of the population
Calculated using the whole population
Statistic
Numerical characteristic of the sample
Calculated using the sample
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

3. Simple Random Sampling (SRS)
Each possible sample has the same probability of being selected
The sample size is usually denoted by n
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

4. Example of SRS Population of 4 students: Alf, Buford, Charlie, Dixie
Select a SRS of size n = 2 to ask them about their smoking habits
6 possible samples of size 2
A,B
A,C
A,D
B,C
B,D
C,D
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

5. How to choose a SRS?
Each of the size possible samples has to have the same probability of being selected
How could we do this?
Roll a die
Random number generator
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

6. Common Problems when Sampling
Convenience sample
Selecting subjects that are easily accessible to you
Volunteer sample
Selecting the first two subjects who volunteer to take the survey
What are the problems with these samples?
Proper representation of the population
Bias
Examples
Mall interview
Street corner interview
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

7. Example
A survey of 300 random individuals was conducted in Louisville that revealed that President Obama had an approval rating of 67%.
Is 67% a statistic or parameter?
The surveyors stated that only 67% of Kentuckians approved of President Obama.
What is the problem with this statement?
Why might the surveyors have chosen Louisville as their sampling location?
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

8. Famous Example
1936 presidential election of Alfred Landon vs. Franklin Roosevelt
Literary Digest sent out over 10 million questionaires in the mail to predict the election outcome
What type of sample is this?
2 million responses predicted an landslide victory for Alfred Landon
George Gallup used a much small random sample and predicted a clear victory for FDR
FDR won with 62% of the vote
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

9. Other Examples TV, radio call-in polls
“should the UN headquarters continue to be located in the United States?”
ABC poll with 186,000 callers: 67% no
Scientific random sample of 500: 28% no
Which sample is more trust worthy?
Would any of you call in to give you opinion? Why or why not?
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

10. Other Examples Another advantage of random samples
Inferential statistical methods can be applied to state that “the true percentage of all Americans who want the UN headquarters out of the United States is between 24% and 32%”
These methods cannot be applied to volunteer sample
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

11. Don’t Trust Bad Samples
Whenever you see results from a poll, check whether they come from a random sample
Preferably, it should be stated
Who sponsored and conducted the poll?
How were the questions worded?
How was the sample selected?
How large was it?
If not, the results may not be trustworthy
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

12. Question Wording Kalton et al. (1978), England
Two groups get questions with slightly different wording
Group 1
“Are you in favor of giving special priority to buses in the rush hour or not ?”
Group 2
“Are you in favor of giving special priority to buses in the rush hour or should cars have just as much priority as buses ?”
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

13. Question Wording
Result: Proportion of people saying that priority should be given to buses.
Without reference to cars
With reference
to cars
Difference
All respondents
(n=1076)
(n=1081)
0.14
Women
(n=585)
(n=590)
0.16
Men
(n=491)
(n=488)
0.08
Non Car-owners
(n=565)
(n=554)
0.18
Car owners
(n=509)
(n=522)
0.12
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

14. Question Order
Two questions asked in different order during the cold war
(1)“Do you think the U.S. should let Russian newspaper reporters come here and send back whatever they want?”
(2)“Do you think Russia should let American newspaper reporters come in and send back whatever they want?”
When question (1) was asked first, 36% answered “Yes”
When question (2) was asked first, 73% answered “Yes” to question (1)
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

15. ‘Flavors’ of Statistics
Descriptive Statistics
Summarizing the information in a collection of data
Inferential Statistics
Using information from a sample to make conclusions/predictions about the population
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

16. Example
71% of individuals surveyed believed that the Kentucky Football team will return to a bowl game in 2009
Is 71% an example of descriptive or inferential statistics?
From the same sample it is concluded that at least 85% of Kentucky Football fans approve of Coach Brooks’ job here at UK
Is 85% an example of descriptive or inferential statistics?
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

17. Qualitative Variables
Nominal
Gender, nationality, hair color, state of residence
Nominal variables have a scale of unordered categories
It does not make sense to say, for example, that green hair is greater/higher/better than orange hair
Ordinal
Disease status, company rating, grade in STA 291
Ordinal variables have a scale of ordered categories, they are often treated in a quantitative manner (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.)
One unit can have more of a certain property than does another unit
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

18. Quantitative Variables
Age, income, height
Quantitative variables are measured numerically, that is, for each subject a number is observed
The scale for quantitative variables is called interval scale
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

19. Example
A survey of Kentucky Football fans obtained the following information
Age
Whether they preferred the new blue helmet or the old white helmet
The number of games they think the team will win in 2009
How they felt the UK vs. U of L game would turn out
U of L in a blowout
U of L in a close game
UK in a close game
UK in a blowout
Are these qualitative or quantitative variables and what is the scale for each?
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

20. Discrete and Continuous
A variable is discrete if it can take on a finite number of values
Gender
Favorite MLB team
Qualitative variables are discrete
Continuous variables can take an infinite continuum of possible real number values
Time spent studying for STA 291 per day
27 minutes
minutes
minutes
Can be subdivided into more accurate values
Therefore continuous
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

21. Observational Study
An observational study observes individuals and measures variables of interest but does not attempt to influence the responses
Purpose of an observational study is to describe/compare groups or situations
Example: Select a sample of men and women and ask whether he/she has taken aspirin regularly over the past 2 years, and whether he/she had suffered a heart attack over the same period
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

22. Experiment
An experiment deliberately imposes some treatment on individuals in order to observe their responses
Purpose of an experiment is to study whether the treatment causes a change in the response
Example: Randomly select men and women, divide the sample into two groups. One group would take aspirin daily, the other would not. After 2 years, determine for each group the proportion of people who had suffered a heart attack.
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2

23. Which is Preferred? Observational Studies Experiments
Passive data collection
We observe, record, or measure, but don’t interfere
Experiments
Active data production
Actively intervene by imposing some treatment in order to see what happens
Experiments are preferable if they are possible
We are able to control more things and be sure our data isn’t tainted
STA 291 Fall 2009 Lecture 2