ABSTRACT
Statistics has its own vocabulary. Many of the terms that comprise statistical nomenclature are familiar: some commonly used in everyday language, with perhaps, somewhat different connotations. Precise definitions are given in this chapter so that no ambiguity will exist when the words are used in subsequent chapters. Specifically, such terms as discrete and continuous variables, frequency distribution, population, sample, mean, median, standard deviation, variance, coefficient of variation (CV), range, accuracy, and precision are introduced and defined. The methods of calculation of different kinds of means, the median, standard deviation, and range are also presented. When studying any discipline, the initial efforts are most important. The first chapters of this book are important in this regard. Although most of the early concepts are relatively simple, a firm grasp of this material is essential for understanding the more difficult material to follow.
