Introductory Statistics

Module 1: Gathering Your Data

This learning module deals with the effects of how one gathers data. While this may seem rather elementary, we discover that choices on collection method frequently impact our statistical conclusions. This is why we spend time examining how we can properly — and cheaply — collect a representative sample from the larger population.

However, this fails to answer the important questions: What constitutes an acceptable sampling method? What are the main types? When is each appropriate? These are questions one must wrestle with in planning to collect data.