| Statistics are such an integral part of | | | | in business, a basic statistics class is a |
| modern lives that sometimes it isn't | | | | great idea. It will give you an |
| realized. The prediction of the winner of a | | | | understanding of how to go about gathering |
| presidential race or the local mayoral | | | | information, categorizing it and how to use |
| contest depends upon inferential statistics, | | | | it to answer common business questions. If |
| one of the two main branches of statistics. | | | | you need statistics help just to have an |
| The other branch of statistics is that of | | | | understanding of how various types of |
| descriptive statistics. This is how to | | | | statistical gathering works, classroom or |
| determine which baseball player in the | | | | textbook learning is probably the best way to |
| American League had the best batting average | | | | approach the subject. Of course, you will |
| in a single season. | | | | have a significant amount of time and |
| | | | learning involved in understanding the |
| The information which is available on the | | | | basics. |
| internet today probably exceeds that of any | | | | |
| other time in history. Research is possible | | | | Another way to get statistics help is to hire |
| and for those who enjoy sports or for whom | | | | a consultant to do the work that you need to |
| sports betting are a recreational activity, | | | | have done. This solution is inconvenient at |
| they certainly use statistics in arriving at | | | | best, and sometimes expensive, plus it may |
| decisions as to which team to back or which | | | | mean almost as much work determining that |
| horse to bet on. | | | | exact information which is needed as it will |
| | | | to go ahead and complete the project for |
| For others, it's important to understand | | | | which you need the information. If you must |
| where to find help with statistics in order | | | | determine where to find the qualified |
| to make good decisions based on the | | | | consultant and gather the information needed |
| information which is collected and | | | | to coordinate the project, you may still need |
| categorized. Statistics help can be obtained | | | | to spend time in ensuring that the consultant |
| from many different places and in many forms. | | | | understands the nature of the question you |
| Probably the most important decision to be | | | | need answered. |
| made in pursuing decision based on statistics | | | | |
| is where to find the raw data. Advanced | | | | Another alternative for obtaining statistics |
| sampling techniques assist in many studies, | | | | help is through the software programs and |
| but it's important to understand that a poor | | | | spreadsheet programs now available for |
| sample means results are not dependable. | | | | computers. Most of the spreadsheet programs |
| | | | have statistical functions built in for such |
| For the student who is attempting to | | | | things as standard deviation, averages, |
| understand the subject, they can find help in | | | | median of a range and some of the other more |
| textbooks, on line classes or through a | | | | common formulas. Most of these formulas also |
| tutor. The level of instruction ranges from | | | | have a help feature which will explain the |
| very simple explanations to assistance in | | | | functions in enough detail so that you can |
| preparing for advanced examinations which | | | | determine how to accomplish the capturing of |
| require statistics understanding. For anyone | | | | the information which you require. |