Statistics – numerical figures collected systematically and arranged for a particular purpose.
Statistical data-information presented inform of numbers e.g.
- No. of students in a school
- Mean daily temperature of a place
- Amount of milk produced daily from a farm
- Amount of money earned from exports annually.
Statistical methods-techniques of collecting, recording, analyzing, presenting and interpreting statistical data.
Significance of Statistics
- Illustrates relationship between 2 or more varying quantities e.g. beans production and acreage under cultivation.
- Summarizes geographical information which saves time and space.
- Makes comparison between components e.g. province with the highest number of people.
- Prediction of future trends of weather and climate.
- Prediction of natural disasters e.g. droughts and floods.
- Planning for provision of social amenities e.g. hospitals and schools.
Types of Statistical Data
primary Data
First hand or original information from the field e.g.
Mean daily temperature from a weather station
Enumeration/census
Secondary/Derived Data
2nd hand information available in stored sources compiled by other researchers e.g.
- Textbooks
- Reference books
- Maps
- Video/audio tapes
- Textbooks
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Census reports
- Slides
- Census reports