Health information and Basic statistics

Health Information And Basic Statistics

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Elementary statistics:

It appears that the word ‘ statistics’ is devried from the Latin word ‘ status’ or the Italian word ‘statisa’ which means a political state. It was originally applied in connection with king & monarchs collecting data on their citizen which pertained to sate wealth, taxes collected, population and soon.

The word ‘ statistics’ is used with two distinct meaning. Statistics as a pulral noun, as it is used for masses of figures. AS a singular noun it means the science of statistics.

Croxton and cowden have given a very simple and comprehensive definition of statistics which is as follows.

‘ satatistics may be defined as the collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of numerical data’

According to this defined there definition three aspect of satatical method :

1. Collection of data.

2. Presentation of data.

3. Analysis of data and.

4. Interpretation of data.

We will these of one by one

 

1. Collection data:

The Frist step in a satatical investigation is the collection of data relating to the phenomenon under study. Since the conclusion will based on these data, it is absolutely essential that these data are as accurate as possible. Conclusion based on incorrect data will be grossly erroneous. Such data may be collected by the investigator himself in which case they are primary Data or else they may be obtained from exting published buletins, Journals etc. Of well established organisation in which case they are called secondary Data. In any case utmost care must be taken to see that the data are reliable.

2. Presentation of Data:

The information obtained from various individual or sources may be some what in a scattered from such data, the primary data, in particular,will have to be wiriten in the from of numbers and will then have to be presented in the from of tables. This is the next stage in a satatical investigations.

3. Analysis Of Data:

A large mass 01 dat presented in the from of a table is the second stage in a satatical investigation. The next stage is its analysis. From the data we data we obtained a few figures such as measure of central tendency and dispersion, correlation coefficient etc. By proper method and these figures enable us to draw some conclusions for the characteristics under study such figures reveal very valuable information about the data as a whole. We shall study some method of obtaining such figures in chapters on measures of central Tendency, Measure of Dispersion, correlation etc.

4. Interpretation of Data:

Interpretation of data is the fourth and the last stage in a satatical investigation. The result obtained in stage number three are in the from of numbers. The significantnce of such numbers is to be translated in the from statements. This is what is meant by interpretation of data. It is required highly trained persons to interpret the results correctly. If this is not done properly the interpretation may be incorrect and the projects of investigation may be defeated.

The following are the chief function statistics:

1. It presents facts in a definite from.

2. It simpled complexity in data.

3. It facilitates complexity in data.

4. It enable the study of relationship.

5. It enable us to draw vaild conclusion from the data.

6. It help in forcasting.

7. It help in formulating policies.

We shall study these functions one by one

1. It presents facts in a define from. A sataement made in words may not be able to make a very clear and convincing impression on the mind of a listener. In some casses it may be very vague. Thus if we say that the production of wheat in India has increased this year then it is a very vague statement However, if we say that india, the production of wheat in the year 1689-69 was 39.8 million tonnes and it was 37.6 million tonnes during the year 1967-68 which thus shows an increase in the production of wheat .Thus three is a definitness in the statement.

2. It simpilfies complexity in data. information obtained from individual in the course of an investigation is in the from of numbers. The bulk of the data will depend upon the number of individual. Generally three may be thousands of numbers in the data. In order to draw some conclusions these will have to be reduced to great extent and further a few figures which will bring out the significant of the data to be calculated from the reduced data. Thus of we are given incomes of say 10,000 persons in a city it may be desirable to group them suitably and then, find average income etc.

3. In facilitates comparison. From the large mass of data we calculate averages, ratios,percentage,cofficients which enable us to compare them with similar data. Thus if are given the per capital incomes of two countries say Japan and America then it will be possible for us to make relevant comparison.

4. It enable the study of relationship. We know that data about phenomena like rainfall production,price and,demand and supply are in some way related. In statistics, techniques have been developed to study realtionship ” between data about such type of phenomena.

5. It enable us to draw vaild conclusion from data. Suppose that the data. Suppose that we are investigating the effect of two different fertillzers on the yeild of wheat. Appropriate statical tests may be used to decide wheather three is real difference between in effects of the two fertilizers.

6. It help in forecasting. For certain types of phenomena. If relevant information is available then it is possible to find ‘ estimates’ for the future. Thus if data relating to the total population,death rates,birth rates etc. Of a country over a number of year say 1960 to 1972 are available then it impossible to find an estimate of population for some year such as 1975,1976 etc.

7.  It help in formulating policies for the future, we have to use relevant quantitative data and posible estimates for the future. Thus for an industry while framing policies about production for the next year, data about existing stock,market trends etc. will be very useful.