ABSTRACT
In this write-up we outline various statistical techniques employed to draw meaningful inferences from socio-economic data. At the onset, methods of designing surveys so as to get data relevant to the inferential procedure are briefly discussed. The inferential procedures are then broadly classified into two groups – the methods for estimation and the methods for hypothesis testing. The distinction between these two approaches is first made. The techniques employed to draw inferences from each method are then described. The focus is primarily on the concepts and applications of these techniques rather than on the mathematical derivations of the results. Emphasis is given on the proper interpretations of the results. Illustrations of the techniques are made through numerical and real-life examples.
