Statistics key terms

A set of pie charts whose circle areas are proportional to the total frequencies represented, allowing both totals and category proportions to be compared.

A bar chart in which each bar is divided into stacked segments showing the components of its total.

A judgement that answers an investigation's question using the statistical evidence.

The probability of an event when another event is known to have occurred. $P(B\mid A)$ means the probability of $B$ given $A$.

The event known to have occurred when calculating a conditional probability. In $P(B\mid A)$, A is the conditioning event.

The protection of private information so that it is not disclosed to people who should not have access to it.

A limitation or requirement that restricts how a statistical investigation can be designed or carried out.

A weighted index measuring changes in consumer prices. Unlike RPI, it excludes mortgage interest payments.

Numerical data that can take any value within a range, such as height or time.

A quantity that can take any value within a range, such as a mass or a length, rather than only separate values.

A time series chart showing successive sample statistics against a target value and warning and action limits.

A comparison group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment being investigated.

How easy and practical it is to obtain data, considering access to information and the availability of participants.

An association between two variables, where changes in one tend to accompany changes in the other.

How closely the points on a scatter diagram cluster around a straight-line pattern.

The number of births during a stated period, usually a year, per 1000 people in the total population.

The number of deaths during a stated period, usually a year, per 1000 people in the total population.

The running total of frequencies up to a particular value or class boundary.

A cumulative frequency graph for discrete data, with vertical jumps at data values and horizontal sections between them. Each jump adds the frequency at that value.

The probability that a random variable is less than or equal to a specified value, such as $P(X\leq r)$.

A pattern of rises and falls that repeats over time, such as a weekly pattern in customer numbers.

Recorded observations or measurements collected for an investigation.

Organising, representing and examining data to identify patterns and draw conclusions.

Checking and preparing collected data for analysis by correcting confirmed errors, dealing appropriately with invalid values and making formats consistent.

A prepared table or tally chart used to record observations or measurements during data collection.

Arranging data in a useful structure, such as an ordered list or a table, so that it can be checked, processed and presented.

Transforming collected data into useful information, for example by sorting values, counting frequencies or calculating summary statistics.

A representation of data using visual features, such as bars, points or lines, to help people understand values, comparisons or patterns.

A boundary dividing an ordered distribution into tenths. The kth decile is the same as the (10k)th percentile.

Events for which knowing whether one occurs changes the probability of the other occurring.