{"id":5,"date":"2022-05-23T17:37:18","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T21:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/?p=5"},"modified":"2022-05-25T16:10:05","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T20:10:05","slug":"section-1-1-organizing-data","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/chapter\/section-1-1-organizing-data\/","title":{"raw":"Section 1.1: Organizing Data","rendered":"Section 1.1: Organizing Data"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Section Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Describe in very general terms what statistics is all about.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Identify the \u201cwho, what, when, where, why, and how\u201d of data.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Define what is meant by a variable in statistics.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Identify a variable as categorical or numerical.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Distinguish between the name of a variable and the values that a variable can assume.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Identify the units used for a numerical variable.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Section Checklist<\/h2>\r\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 180px\" border=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 15px\">\r\n<th style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 15px\">Learning activity<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 9.99345%\">Graded?<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 15px\">Estimated time<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 15px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 15px\">Read <em>OpenIntro Statistics<\/em> sections 1.1 and 1.2 and supplementary notes<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 15px\">45 mins<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\">Watch instructional videos<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\">15 mins<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer two section check-in questions<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Yes<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">15 mins<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\">Work through virtual statistical software lab<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\">45 mins<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer two virtual statistical software lab questions<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Yes<\/span><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">15 mins<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\">Work on practice exercises<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\">2 hours<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%\">Explore suggested websites<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%\">45 mins<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2>Learning Activities<\/h2>\r\n<h3>Readings \ud83d\udcd6<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Obtain the <em>OpenIntro Statistics<\/em> textbook <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">[link to section in Course Guide with instructions for how to do this]<\/span> and read the <strong>Preface<\/strong>. Yes, really \ud83d\ude01. There's useful information here that will benefit you as you move through the course. In particular, you'll see a good overview of the topics covered in the course and learn how examples and guided practice exercises are woven into the text. Answers to guided practice exercises are provided in footnotes at the bottom of the page.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Read <em>OpenIntro Statistics <\/em><strong>Section 1.1: Case study: using stents to prevent strokes<\/strong>. This application provides a good motivation for why you're studying statistics. Self-assess your understanding while you read by attempting the guided practice exercise.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Read <em>OpenIntro Statistics <\/em><strong>Section 1.2: Data basics<\/strong>. Here you'll learn how to effectively organize and describe data prior to analysis. There's a lot of terminology in this section, which you can look up at any time in the course in the <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/back-matter\/glossary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Glossary<\/a>. Again, self-assess your understanding while you read by attempting the guided practice exercises.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Read the Supplementary Notes further down this page.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Instructional Videos \ud83c\udfa6<\/h3>\r\nOpenIntro Statistics Video 1.1 - Using stents to prevent strokes (4:29)\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nEHFF1ADpWE?list=PLkIselvEzpM6pZ76FD3NoCvvgkj_p-dE8\r\n\r\nOpenIntro Statistics Video 1.2 - Data basics (4:14)\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/Mjif8PTgzUs?list=PLkIselvEzpM6pZ76FD3NoCvvgkj_p-dE8\r\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Section Check-in Questions<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer the two check-in questions for Section 1.1 in your Moodle course. The questions are based on the material covered in the readings and instructional videos. The questions are multiple choice, fill-in-the blank, matching, or number questions and are auto-graded in Moodle. Once you access the questions you have 15 minutes to submit your answers, which will count 0.25% towards your overall grade.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Virtual Statistical Software Lab \ud83d\udcbb<\/h3>\r\nWork through the virtual statistical software lab: <a href=\"https:\/\/openintrostat.github.io\/oilabs-jamovi\/01_intro_to_jamovi\/intro_to_jamovi.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Introduction to jamovi<\/a>. This will introduce you to <em>jamovi<\/em>, which is free, easy-to-use, open source software for conducting statistical analysis. You'll be using this software to carry out all the statistical analyses covered in the course. This lab will show you how to download and run the software and explore reading in data and basic commands for working with data in <em>jamovi<\/em>. The lab should take you no more than 45 minutes to complete.\r\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Virtual Statistical Software Lab Questions<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer the two virtual statistical software lab questions for Section 1.1 in your Moodle course. The questions are based on the lab you just completed. The questions are multiple choice, fill-in-the blank, matching, or number questions and are auto-graded in Moodle. Once you access the questions you have 15 minutes to submit your answers, which will count 0.25% towards your overall grade.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Practice Exercises \ud83d\udd8a<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Work on the following exercises in <em>OpenIntro Statistics <\/em>Exercises 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, and 1.11 and Chapter Exercies 1.43 <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">[add link to PDF containing exercises]<\/span>. Check your answers using the solutions provided in Appendix A of <em>OpenIntro Statistics<\/em>. You'll deepen your understanding much more effectively if you genuinely attempt the questions by yourself before checking the solutions.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Work on the following exercises on [WeBWorK or LibreTexts Adapt]: <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">[link to be added]<\/span>. Check your answers using the solutions provided.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Suggested Websites \ud83c\udf0e<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>to be added<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Supplementary Notes<\/h2>\r\n<h3>Introduction<\/h3>\r\n<h6>What\u2019s the most basic ingredient of any statistical study?<\/h6>\r\nData.\r\n<h6>What are data?<\/h6>\r\nInformation\u2013\u2013numerical or categorical\u2013\u2013recorded with a context to give it meaning.\r\n<h6>How do we identify context?<\/h6>\r\nAnswer the \u201c5 W\u2019s plus H,\u201d that is the \u201cWho, What, When, Where, Why, and How\u201d if possible.\r\n<h6>Example<\/h6>\r\nIn the following data table, the most important \u201cWho\u201d and \u201cWhat\u201d can be identified, but without more information we really can\u2019t answer the \u201cWhen,\u201d \u201cWhere,\u201d \u201cWhy,\u201d and \u201cHow.\u201d\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-159 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_1.png\" alt=\"Data example\" width=\"576\" height=\"344\" \/>\r\n<h6>In statistics, what is a variable?<\/h6>\r\nA variable is a characteristic of a subject (or more generally, an experimental unit) whose value varies from case to case.\r\n<h6>What are the two types of variables?<\/h6>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Categorical (qualitative)\u2014values are categories<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Numerical (quantitative)\u2014values are numbers<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nFor the example in the previous data table, identify the variables and their types.\r\n<h6>Categorical<\/h6>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Student Name<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Sex<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Main Internet Activity<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h6>Numerical<\/h6>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Age<\/li>\r\n \t<li>High School Grade<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Daily Internet Use Time<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h6>What\u2019s meant by the values of a variable?<\/h6>\r\nThe values of a variable are the specific categories (for categorical variables) or numbers (for numerical variables) that the variable can take on.\r\n<h6>Example<\/h6>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Categorical variable: \u201ceye colour of humans.\u201d Possible values: brown, blue, green, black, \u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Numerical variable: \u201cnumber of children in the family.\u201d Possible values: 0, 1, 2, 3, \u2026 children.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h6>Do numerical variables always have units?<\/h6>\r\nAbsolutely, and it\u2019s very important that you include the units whenever you quote values of the variable.\r\n<h6>Example<\/h6>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Numerical variable: Cost of a home in Whistler, BC<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Possible values: 545,000 dollars, $780,000, 1.2 million dollars<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h6>Example: Identifying \u201cFive W\u2019s plus H\u201d<\/h6>\r\nLater in the course, we\u2019ll often look at abstracts (summaries) of studies that have been published in various health science journals. The following is an example of an abstract that was published in the Yonsei Medical Journal and is available in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ezproxy.tru.ca\/login?url=https:\/\/search.ebscohost.com\/login.aspx?direct=true&amp;db=edswsc&amp;AN=000241938800003&amp;site=eds-live&amp;scope=site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TRU Library<\/a>.\r\n\r\nHow many of the \u201cFive W\u2019s plus H\u201d can we identify from the abstract?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_160\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"600\"]<img class=\"wp-image-160\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_2.png\" alt=\"Yonsei Medical Journal abstract\" width=\"600\" height=\"673\" \/> Kim, K. K., Cho, H. J., Kang, H. C., Youn, B. B. &amp; Lee, K. R. (2006). Effects on weight reduction and safety of short-term phentermine administration in Korean obese people. Yonsei Medical Journal, 47(5), 614\u2013625. Adapted with permission.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThere are six variables (the Whats) reported in the abstract.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>\u201cTreatment received\u201d\u2014categorical with values \u201cphentermine\u201d and \u201cplacebo\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u201cDecrease in body weight\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are kg<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u201cDecrease in waist circumference\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are cm<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u201cDifference in systolic blood pressure\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are mmHg<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u201cDifference in diastolic blood pressure\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are mmHg<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u201cAdverse events\u201d\u2014categorical with values \u201cdry mouth\u201d and \u201cinsomnia\u201d given in abstract<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Section Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Describe in very general terms what statistics is all about.<\/li>\n<li>Identify the \u201cwho, what, when, where, why, and how\u201d of data.<\/li>\n<li>Define what is meant by a variable in statistics.<\/li>\n<li>Identify a variable as categorical or numerical.<\/li>\n<li>Distinguish between the name of a variable and the values that a variable can assume.<\/li>\n<li>Identify the units used for a numerical variable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Section Checklist<\/h2>\n<table class=\"grid\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 180px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 15px\">\n<th style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 15px\">Learning activity<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 9.99345%\">Graded?<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 15px\">Estimated time<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 15px\">\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 15px\">Read <em>OpenIntro Statistics<\/em> sections 1.1 and 1.2 and supplementary notes<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 15px\">45 mins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\">Watch instructional videos<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\">15 mins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer two section check-in questions<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Yes<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">15 mins<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\">Work through virtual statistical software lab<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\">45 mins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer two virtual statistical software lab questions<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Yes<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">15 mins<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px\">\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%;height: 30px\">Work on practice exercises<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%;height: 30px\">2 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 73.0668%\">Explore suggested websites<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 9.99345%\">No<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.9398%\">45 mins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Learning Activities<\/h2>\n<h3>Readings \ud83d\udcd6<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Obtain the <em>OpenIntro Statistics<\/em> textbook <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">[link to section in Course Guide with instructions for how to do this]<\/span> and read the <strong>Preface<\/strong>. Yes, really \ud83d\ude01. There&#8217;s useful information here that will benefit you as you move through the course. In particular, you&#8217;ll see a good overview of the topics covered in the course and learn how examples and guided practice exercises are woven into the text. Answers to guided practice exercises are provided in footnotes at the bottom of the page.<\/li>\n<li>Read <em>OpenIntro Statistics <\/em><strong>Section 1.1: Case study: using stents to prevent strokes<\/strong>. This application provides a good motivation for why you&#8217;re studying statistics. Self-assess your understanding while you read by attempting the guided practice exercise.<\/li>\n<li>Read <em>OpenIntro Statistics <\/em><strong>Section 1.2: Data basics<\/strong>. Here you&#8217;ll learn how to effectively organize and describe data prior to analysis. There&#8217;s a lot of terminology in this section, which you can look up at any time in the course in the <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/back-matter\/glossary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Glossary<\/a>. Again, self-assess your understanding while you read by attempting the guided practice exercises.<\/li>\n<li>Read the Supplementary Notes further down this page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Instructional Videos \ud83c\udfa6<\/h3>\n<p>OpenIntro Statistics Video 1.1 &#8211; Using stents to prevent strokes (4:29)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-1\" title=\"Case Study: Using Stents to Prevent Strokes\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nEHFF1ADpWE?list=PLkIselvEzpM6pZ76FD3NoCvvgkj_p-dE8\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>OpenIntro Statistics Video 1.2 &#8211; Data basics (4:14)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-2\" title=\"Data Basics: Observations, Variable, and Data Matrices\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mjif8PTgzUs?list=PLkIselvEzpM6pZ76FD3NoCvvgkj_p-dE8\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Section Check-in Questions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer the two check-in questions for Section 1.1 in your Moodle course. The questions are based on the material covered in the readings and instructional videos. The questions are multiple choice, fill-in-the blank, matching, or number questions and are auto-graded in Moodle. Once you access the questions you have 15 minutes to submit your answers, which will count 0.25% towards your overall grade.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Virtual Statistical Software Lab \ud83d\udcbb<\/h3>\n<p>Work through the virtual statistical software lab: <a href=\"https:\/\/openintrostat.github.io\/oilabs-jamovi\/01_intro_to_jamovi\/intro_to_jamovi.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Introduction to jamovi<\/a>. This will introduce you to <em>jamovi<\/em>, which is free, easy-to-use, open source software for conducting statistical analysis. You&#8217;ll be using this software to carry out all the statistical analyses covered in the course. This lab will show you how to download and run the software and explore reading in data and basic commands for working with data in <em>jamovi<\/em>. The lab should take you no more than 45 minutes to complete.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Virtual Statistical Software Lab Questions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><span style=\"color: #339966\">Answer the two virtual statistical software lab questions for Section 1.1 in your Moodle course. The questions are based on the lab you just completed. The questions are multiple choice, fill-in-the blank, matching, or number questions and are auto-graded in Moodle. Once you access the questions you have 15 minutes to submit your answers, which will count 0.25% towards your overall grade.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Practice Exercises \ud83d\udd8a<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Work on the following exercises in <em>OpenIntro Statistics <\/em>Exercises 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, and 1.11 and Chapter Exercies 1.43 <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">[add link to PDF containing exercises]<\/span>. Check your answers using the solutions provided in Appendix A of <em>OpenIntro Statistics<\/em>. You&#8217;ll deepen your understanding much more effectively if you genuinely attempt the questions by yourself before checking the solutions.<\/li>\n<li>Work on the following exercises on [WeBWorK or LibreTexts Adapt]: <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">[link to be added]<\/span>. Check your answers using the solutions provided.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Suggested Websites \ud83c\udf0e<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>to be added<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Supplementary Notes<\/h2>\n<h3>Introduction<\/h3>\n<h6>What\u2019s the most basic ingredient of any statistical study?<\/h6>\n<p>Data.<\/p>\n<h6>What are data?<\/h6>\n<p>Information\u2013\u2013numerical or categorical\u2013\u2013recorded with a context to give it meaning.<\/p>\n<h6>How do we identify context?<\/h6>\n<p>Answer the \u201c5 W\u2019s plus H,\u201d that is the \u201cWho, What, When, Where, Why, and How\u201d if possible.<\/p>\n<h6>Example<\/h6>\n<p>In the following data table, the most important \u201cWho\u201d and \u201cWhat\u201d can be identified, but without more information we really can\u2019t answer the \u201cWhen,\u201d \u201cWhere,\u201d \u201cWhy,\u201d and \u201cHow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-159 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_1.png\" alt=\"Data example\" width=\"576\" height=\"344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_1.png 576w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_1-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_1-65x39.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_1-225x134.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_1-350x209.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/p>\n<h6>In statistics, what is a variable?<\/h6>\n<p>A variable is a characteristic of a subject (or more generally, an experimental unit) whose value varies from case to case.<\/p>\n<h6>What are the two types of variables?<\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li>Categorical (qualitative)\u2014values are categories<\/li>\n<li>Numerical (quantitative)\u2014values are numbers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For the example in the previous data table, identify the variables and their types.<\/p>\n<h6>Categorical<\/h6>\n<ol>\n<li>Student Name<\/li>\n<li>Sex<\/li>\n<li>Main Internet Activity<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h6>Numerical<\/h6>\n<ol>\n<li>Age<\/li>\n<li>High School Grade<\/li>\n<li>Daily Internet Use Time<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h6>What\u2019s meant by the values of a variable?<\/h6>\n<p>The values of a variable are the specific categories (for categorical variables) or numbers (for numerical variables) that the variable can take on.<\/p>\n<h6>Example<\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li>Categorical variable: \u201ceye colour of humans.\u201d Possible values: brown, blue, green, black, \u2026<\/li>\n<li>Numerical variable: \u201cnumber of children in the family.\u201d Possible values: 0, 1, 2, 3, \u2026 children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h6>Do numerical variables always have units?<\/h6>\n<p>Absolutely, and it\u2019s very important that you include the units whenever you quote values of the variable.<\/p>\n<h6>Example<\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li>Numerical variable: Cost of a home in Whistler, BC<\/li>\n<li>Possible values: 545,000 dollars, $780,000, 1.2 million dollars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h6>Example: Identifying \u201cFive W\u2019s plus H\u201d<\/h6>\n<p>Later in the course, we\u2019ll often look at abstracts (summaries) of studies that have been published in various health science journals. The following is an example of an abstract that was published in the Yonsei Medical Journal and is available in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ezproxy.tru.ca\/login?url=https:\/\/search.ebscohost.com\/login.aspx?direct=true&amp;db=edswsc&amp;AN=000241938800003&amp;site=eds-live&amp;scope=site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TRU Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>How many of the \u201cFive W\u2019s plus H\u201d can we identify from the abstract?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_160\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-160\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-160\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_2.png\" alt=\"Yonsei Medical Journal abstract\" width=\"600\" height=\"673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_2.png 427w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_2-267x300.png 267w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_2-65x73.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_2-225x252.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1688\/2022\/05\/Section1_1_2-350x393.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-160\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kim, K. K., Cho, H. J., Kang, H. C., Youn, B. B. &amp; Lee, K. R. (2006). Effects on weight reduction and safety of short-term phentermine administration in Korean obese people. Yonsei Medical Journal, 47(5), 614\u2013625. Adapted with permission.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There are six variables (the Whats) reported in the abstract.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cTreatment received\u201d\u2014categorical with values \u201cphentermine\u201d and \u201cplacebo\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cDecrease in body weight\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are kg<\/li>\n<li>\u201cDecrease in waist circumference\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are cm<\/li>\n<li>\u201cDifference in systolic blood pressure\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are mmHg<\/li>\n<li>\u201cDifference in diastolic blood pressure\u201d\u2014numerical\u2014units are mmHg<\/li>\n<li>\u201cAdverse events\u201d\u2014categorical with values \u201cdry mouth\u201d and \u201cinsomnia\u201d given in abstract<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":1591,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-5","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-standard"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1591"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":172,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5\/revisions\/172"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=5"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=5"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoprobabilityandstatistics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=5"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}