ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors begin with the question, “What is the value of statistics?” and look at a brief history of statistics by mentioning a few of the more important and interesting statisticians. They consider the concepts of population, parameter, sample, statistic, descriptive and inferential statistics, types of variables, and scales of measurement and describe the most basic statistical concepts. For instance, a certain type of research, statistical analysis, and set of results are all necessary to make causal inferences about cigarette smoking. Another type of research, statistical analysis, and set of results are all necessary to lead one to confidently state that the districting system is racially biased or not, or that global warming needs to be dealt with. The authors aim to define some of the most basic concepts in statistics. Statistics can be denoted in words or in symbols. Statistical notation that refers to the population uses Greek symbols.
