Introduction to Statistical Introduction to Statistical Literacy :Literacy :

A Low pain and high A Low pain and high gain presentationgain presentation

Garth Homer, 02/11/09

How statistics are constructedHow statistics are constructedStatistics CanadaStatistics Canada

Survey Master filesSurvey Master files

Analytical studies

Research (DLI for survey data)

Scholarly articles ( databases)

Popular articles ( newspapers etc.)

Aggregated tables:

Static and dynamic

longitudinal topical

Other Statistical ResourcesOther Statistical Resources

1. Specific Government departments ( Canadian)

2. National and international statistical agencies

3. Non-Government organizations.

4. Polls and surveys ( in articles and stand alone)

““If if’s and and’s were pots and pans” ( Alice If if’s and and’s were pots and pans” ( Alice Through the Looking Glass)Through the Looking Glass)

What questions should I ask myself to What questions should I ask myself to decide what statistics I require decide what statistics I require

The BasicsThe BasicsQ1: What are they on about?Q1: What are they on about?

______________________________________________________What tells you it is a statistical question? What tells you it is a statistical question? Some examplesSome examples

““How many people in B.C. make more than $60,000”How many people in B.C. make more than $60,000”

a number: numeric indicatora number: numeric indicator

“ “ I want to know if Cancer was more prevalent now than in the past”I want to know if Cancer was more prevalent now than in the past”

a time frame: a trenda time frame: a trend

““How many people will be living in Kelowna in 2012”How many people will be living in Kelowna in 2012”

a future time frame: a projectiona future time frame: a projection

““Do teenagers drink more in Canada than in Germany?Do teenagers drink more in Canada than in Germany?

a double variable: a statistical comparisona double variable: a statistical comparison

Q2. What questions should I ask?Q2. What questions should I ask?Variables: Variables: ( the bits and pieces of a statistic)( the bits and pieces of a statistic)

What are the most important characteristics of the statistic? What are the most important characteristics of the statistic?

The geography The geography the area where your statistics were collectedthe area where your statistics were collected

non Canadian, Canadian, provincial, regional, local, urban/ruralnon Canadian, Canadian, provincial, regional, local, urban/rural

The human variable (s) The human variable (s) demographics.demographics.

sex: (m) (f) (both)sex: (m) (f) (both)age: (single) (cohort)age: (single) (cohort)ethnicity (place of birth, visible minority)ethnicity (place of birth, visible minority)status ( immigrant, citizen, prisoner etc.)status ( immigrant, citizen, prisoner etc.)

The domain The domain the subject that applies to your demographicthe subject that applies to your demographic

economics/business, health. social, demographicseconomics/business, health. social, demographics

Q3. If you got what you wanted what Q3. If you got what you wanted what would it look like?would it look like?

Format and output are integral to the usefulness of the statistics Format and output are integral to the usefulness of the statistics

Options:Options: A report with statisticsA report with statistics A printed table A printed table An electronic table ( Excel, B20/20,SPSS,Flat Ascii, HTML)An electronic table ( Excel, B20/20,SPSS,Flat Ascii, HTML)

4.4. A map.( spatial data)A map.( spatial data)

It is important to assess the ability of the output, particularly if it is to be E-It is important to assess the ability of the output, particularly if it is to be E-Mailed.Mailed.

Sources: Where do I start?Sources: Where do I start?

“Always start at the beginning”- Alice in Wonderland

General search hierarchy

1. OC Resources

2. Statistics Canada

Census

3. B.C. Statistics

4. Select Government departments

5. N.G.O. websites

The good and the not so goodThe good and the not so good

OC CatalogueOC Catalogue Gives direct links to difficult sites like the DSPGives direct links to difficult sites like the DSP Has good subject accessHas good subject access Keeps like material togetherKeeps like material together Easy to useEasy to use Readily accessibleReadily accessible

Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada

The good:The good: The Daily The Daily Definitions, Data Definitions, Data

Sources and MethodsSources and Methods Community ProfilesCommunity Profiles

The not so good:The not so good: Difficult search engineDifficult search engine Cluttered siteCluttered site Frequently changing Frequently changing

“face” to the site.“face” to the site.

B.C. StatisticsB.C. Statistics

The best place for B.C Regional, and urban The best place for B.C Regional, and urban statisticsstatistics

Slanted toward Business information.Slanted toward Business information. B.C Stats releases can provide good informationB.C Stats releases can provide good information A-Z index a useful start pointA-Z index a useful start point

Some final thoughtsSome final thoughts Statistics are only a vehicle not an end in Statistics are only a vehicle not an end in

themselves.themselves. Using statistics effectively require a knowledge Using statistics effectively require a knowledge

of how they were acquired and how they are of how they were acquired and how they are accessed.accessed.

Collecting statistics is costly. Only those that Collecting statistics is costly. Only those that have a defined purpose are gathered.have a defined purpose are gathered.

Many statistics are never published.Many statistics are never published. Some statistics by their nature are inaccurate. Some statistics by their nature are inaccurate.