Page 25 - Statistics II for Dummies

Chapter 1

Beyond Number Crunching: The

Art and Science of Data Analysis

In This Chapter
▶ Realizing your role as a data analyst
▶ Avoiding statistical faux pas
▶ Delving into the jargon of Stats II

ecause you’re reading this book, you’re likely familiar with the basics
Bof statistics and you’re ready to take it up a notch. That next level
involves using what you know, picking up a few more tools and techniques,
and finally putting it all to use to help you answer more realistic questions
by using real data. In statistical terms, you’re ready to enter the world of the
data analyst.

In this chapter, you review the terms involved in statistics as they pertain to
data analysis at the Stats II level. You get a glimpse of the impact that your
results can have by seeing what these analysis techniques can do. You also
gain insight into some of the common misuses of data analysis and their
effects.

Data Analysis: Looking
before You Crunch

It used to be that statisticians were the only ones who really analyzed data
because the only computer programs available were very complicated to use,
requiring a great deal of knowledge about statistics to set up and carry out
analyses. The calculations were tedious and at times unpredictable, and they
required a thorough understanding of the theories and methods behind the
calculations to get correct and reliable answers.

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