Statistics is a methodological subject encompassing all aspects of learning from data.
Now, what do we mean by ‘methodological’ and especially in the context of statistics? Methodological here means step-by-step process tools & methods for working with and understanding data.
And these steps are Collection, Classification, Tabulation, Analysis and Interpretation.
Collection: This includes types of data collection - Primary and Secondary data collection
Classification: This includes a grouping of related facts into different classes. To classify data in such a manner that it becomes ready for proper presentation. It’s necessary because statistical data in its raw form almost defies comprehension. When data is presented in an easy-to-read form, it can help the reader to acquire knowledge in a quick/shorter time and can also facilitate analysis. Data classification can be in the below forms -
Geographical
Chronological
Quantitative
Qualitative
3. Tabulation: A statistical table is a presentation of numbers in a logical arrangement with some brief explanation to show what they are
Simple table
Complex table
4. Analysis: This is to explore the properties of data. The statistical tools which describe the properties of the data are known as Descriptive Statistics.
Central tendency
Measure of dispersion
Skewness
5. Interpretation: This comes under inferential statistics, which is used to make interpretations about a set of data, specifically to determine the likelihood that a conclusion about a sample is true.