Statistical terms and concepts glossary

The absolute frequency describes the number of times a particular value for a variable (data item) has been observed to occur.

See: Describing frequencies 

Administrative data are collected as part of the day to day processes and record keeping of organisations.

See: Data sources

A bar chart is a type of graph in which each column (plotted either vertically or horizontally) represents a categorical variable or a discrete ungrouped numeric variable.

See: Frequency distribution 

Categorical variables have values that describe a 'quality' or 'characteristic' of a data unit, like 'what type' or 'which category'. 

See: Variables

Causation indicates that one event is the result of the occurrence of the other event; i.e. there is a causal relationship between the two events. This is also referred to as cause and effect.

See: Correlation and causation

A census is a study of every unit, everyone or everything, in a population.

See: Census and sample

Classifications are used to collect and organise information into categories with other similar pieces of information.

See: Standards and classifications

A class interval is a range of data values. Each class interval has a lower and upper limit and contains all observations with values in that range. Class intervals cannot overlap with one another. For example 0 - 4, 5 - 8, 9 - 12.

A cohort is a group of data units sharing a common experience or characteristic.

Comparability is the ability to validly compare statistics that have been collected over time, or from different sources.

See: Standards and classifications

A confidence interval is a range in which it is estimated the true population value lies.

See: Measures of error

Confidentiality refers to the obligation of organisations that collect information to ensure that no person or organisation is likely to be identified from any data released.

See: Confidentiality

A continuous variable is a numeric variable. Observations can take any value between a certain set of real numbers.

See: Variables

Correlation is a statistical measure (expressed as a number) that describes the size and direction of a relationship between two or more variables.

See: Correlation and causation

The coverage is the actual population of units within the scope of a data collection about which data can actually be collected. As it is not always possible to collect data from units in the population of interest, units may be in scope but not in coverage.

See also: Scope

A cyclical effect is any regular fluctuation in daily, weekly, monthly or annual data.

See: Time series data

Data are measurements or observations that are collected as a source of information.

See: Data

A data item is a characteristic (or attribute) of a data unit which is measured or counted, such as height, country of birth, or income.

See: Data

A dataset is a complete collection of all observations.

See: Data

A data unit is one entity (such as a person or business) in the population being studied, about which data are collected.

See: Data

Data visualisation involves the visual presentation of data to communicate the stories contained in the dataset.

See: Data visualisation

Descriptive statistics summarise the raw data and allow data users to interpret a dataset more easily.

See: What statistics are

A discrete variable is a numeric variable. Observations can take a value based on a count from a set of distinct whole values.

See: Variables

Statistical error describes the difference between a value obtained from a data collection process and the 'true' value for the population.

See: Types of error

An estimate is a value that is inferred for a population based on data collected from a sample of units from that population.

See: Estimate and projection

A flow series is a series which is a measure of activity over a given period.

See: Time series data 

The frequency is the number of times a particular value for a variable (data item) has been observed to occur.

See: Describing frequencies

Frequency distributions are visual displays that organise and present frequency counts so that the information can be interpreted more easily.

See: Frequency distribution

A histogram is a type of graph in which each column represents a numeric variable, in particular that which is continuous and/or grouped.

See: Frequency distribution

An index number is a ratio measuring the value of a data item at one time in relation to its value at a base period. Index numbers measure change without giving the actual numerical value of the data item.

Inferential statistics are used to infer conclusions about a population from a sample of that population.

See: What statistics are

The interquartile range (IQR) is the difference between the upper (Q3) and lower (Q1) quartiles, and describes the middle 50% of values when ordered from lowest to highest.

See: Measures of spread

An irregular effect is any movement that occurred at a specific point in time, but is unrelated to a season or cycle.

See: Time series data

The mean is the sum of the value of each observation in a dataset divided by the number of observations. This is also known as the arithmetic average.

See: Measures of central tendency

A measure of central tendency (also referred to as measures of centre or central location) is a summary measure that attempts to describe a whole set of data with a single value that represents the middle or centre of its distribution.

See: Measures of central tendency

Measures of shape describe the distribution (or pattern) of the data within a dataset.

See: Measures of shape

Measures of spread describe how similar or varied the set of observed values are for a particular variable (data item).

See: Measures of spread

The median is the middle value in distribution when the values are arranged in ascending or descending order.

See: Measures of central tendency

Metadata is the information that defines and describes data.

See: Metadata

The mode is the most commonly occurring value in a distribution.

See: Measures of central tendency

A nominal variable is a categorical variable. Observations can take a value that is not able to be organised in a logical sequence.

See: Variables

In a non-random (or non-probability) sample some units of the population have no chance of selection, the selection is non-random, or the probability of their selection can not be determined.

See: Census and sample

Non-sampling error is caused by factors other than those related to sample selection.

See: Types of error

A normal distribution is a true symmetric distribution of observed values.

See: Measures of shape

Numeric variables have values that describe a measurable quantity as a number, like 'how many' or 'how much'.

See: Variables

An observation is an occurrence of a specific data item that is recorded about a data unit.

See: Data

An ordinal variable is a categorical variable. Observations can take a value that can be logically ordered or ranked.

See: Variables

An original time series shows the actual movements in the data over time.

See: Time series data

Outliers are extreme, or atypical data value(s) that are notably different from the rest of the data.

See: Measures of central tendency

A percentage expresses a value for a variable in relation to a whole population as a fraction of one hundred.

See: Describing frequencies

A population is any complete group with at least one characteristic in common.

See: Population

A projection indicates what the future changes in a population would be if the assumptions about future trends actually occur.

See: Estimate and projection

A proportion describes the share of one value for a variable in relation to a whole.

See: Describing frequencies

Qualitative data are measures of 'types' and may be represented by a name, symbol, or a number code.

See: Quantitative and qualitative data

Quantitative data are measures of values or counts and are expressed as numbers.

See: Quantitative and qualitative data

Quartiles divide an ordered dataset into four equal parts, and refer to the values of the point between the quarters. A dataset may also be divided into quintiles (five equal parts) or deciles (ten equal parts).

See: Measures of spread 

In a random (or probability) sample each unit in the population has a chance of being selected, and this probability can be accurately determined.

See: Census and sample

The range is the difference between the smallest value and the largest value in a dataset.

See: Measures of spread

A rate is a measurement of one value for a variable in relation to another measured quantity.

See: Describing frequencies

A ratio compares the frequency of one value for a variable with another value for the variable.

See: Describing frequencies

A relative frequency describes the number of times a particular value for a variable (data item) has been observed to occur in relation to the total number of values for that variable.

See: Describing frequencies

The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a proportion of an estimated value.

See: Measures of error

A respondent provides data about oneself as a unit, or as a representative of another unit in a population.

See: Data sources

A sample is a subset of units in a population, selected to represent all units in a population of interest.

See: Census and sample

Sampling error occurs solely as a result of using a sample from a population, rather than conducting a census (complete enumeration) of the population.

See: Types of error

The scope is the set of units that comprise the population of interest (target population) about which data are being collected.

See also: Coverage

A seasonal effect is any variation in data due to calendar related effects which occur systematically at specific seasonal frequencies every year.

See: Time series data

A seasonally adjusted series involves estimating and removing the cyclical and seasonal effects from the original data.

See: Time series data

Skewness is the tendency for the values to be more frequent around the high or low ends of the x-axis.

See: Measures of shape

The standard deviation measures the spread of the data around the mean.

See: Measures of spread

The standard error (SE) is a measure of the variation between any estimated population value that is based on a sample rather than true value for the population.

See: Measures of error

Statistical literacy refers to the knowledge and skills that enable data users and producers to understand, evaluate and communicate statistical data and information.

A statistical standard is a set of rules used to standardise the way data are collected and statistics are produced.

See: Standards and classifications

A statistic is a value that has been produced from a data collection, such as a summary measure, an estimate or projection. Statistical information is data that has been organised to serve a useful purpose.

See: What statistics are

A stock series is a measure of certain attributes at a point in time and can be thought of as “stock takes”.

See: Time series data

A survey involves collecting information from every unit in the population (a census), or from a subset of units (a sample) from the population.

See: Data sources

A time series is a collection of observations of well-defined data items obtained through repeated measurements over time.

See: Time series data

A trend series is a seasonally adjusted series that has been further adjusted to remove irregular effects and 'smooth' out the series to show the overall 'trend' of the data over time.

See: Time series data

A variable is any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted.

See: Variables

The variance measures the spread of the data around the mean.

See: Measures of spread