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Quantitative Techniques – I

Notes 1.1 Meaning, Definition and Characteristics of Statistics

The meaning of the word ‘Statistics’ is implied by the pattern of development of the subject.
Since the subject originated with the collection of data and then, in later years, the techniques of
analysis and interpretation were developed, the word ‘statistics’ has been used in both the plural
and the singular sense. Statistics, in plural sense, means a set of numerical figures or data. In the
singular sense, it represents a method of study and therefore, refers to statistical principles and
methods developed for analysis and interpretation of data.

Statistics has been defined in different ways by different authors. These definitions can be
broadly classified into two categories. In the first category are those definitions which lay
emphasis on statistics as data whereas the definitions in second category emphasise statistics as
a scientific method.

Statistics used in the plural sense implies a set of numerical figures collected with reference to a
certain problem under investigation. It may be noted here that any set of numerical figures
cannot be regarded as statistics. There are certain characteristics which must be satisfied by a
given set of numerical figures in order that they may be termed as statistics. Before giving these
characteristics it will be advantageous to go through the definitions of statistics in the plural
sense, given by noted scholars.
1. “Statistics are numerical facts in any department of enquiry placed in relation to each
other.” – A.L. Bowley
The main features of the above definition are:
(i) Statistics (or Data) implies numerical facts.

(ii) Numerical facts or figures are related to some enquiry or investigation.
(iii) Numerical facts should be capable of being arranged in relation to each other.
On the basis of the above features we can say that data are those numerical facts which
have been expressed as a set of numerical figures related to each other and to some area of
enquiry or research. We may, however, note here that all the characteristics of data are not
covered by the above definition.

2. “By statistics we mean quantitative data affected to a marked extent by multiplicity of
causes.” — Yule & Kendall
This definition covers two aspects, i.e., the data are quantitative and affected by a large
number of causes.
3. “Statistics are classified facts respecting the conditions of the people in a state – especially
those facts which can be stated in numbers or in tables of numbers or in any other tabular
or classified arrangement.” — Webster

On the basis of the above definitions we can now state the following characteristics of statistics
as data:
1. Statistics are numerical facts: In order that any set of facts can be called as statistics or data,
it must be capable of being represented numerically or quantitatively. Ordinarily, the
facts can be classified into two categories: (a) Facts that are measurable and can be
represented by numerical measurements. Measurement of heights of students in a college,
income of persons in a locality, yield of wheat per acre in a certain district, etc., are
examples of measurable facts. (b) Facts that are not measurable but we can feel the presence
or absence of the characteristics. Honesty, colour of hair or eyes, beauty, intelligence,
smoking habit, etc., are examples of immeasurable facts. Statistics or data can be obtained
in such cases also, by counting the number of individuals in different categories. For

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