Topic 1. METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF STATISTICS

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 375.

• The subject and object of statistics

• The categories and concepts in statistics

Statistic called the branch of knowledge, bringing together the principles and methods of working with numerical data that characterize the mass phenomenon. Statistics are also called practical activities aimed at collecting, processing, analysis of statistical data.

The word "statistics" comes from the Latin word «status» - a state of things. Originally it was used in the meaning of "political status". In scientific usage the word "statistics" came in the 18th century and originally was used to mean "state management". Currently, statistics can be defined as the collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of numerical data. This is a special method that is used in various fields of activity in the solution of various problems. Historically, the development of statistics has been associated with the development of the government needs. Economic and military needs are already in the ancient period in the history of mankind demanded the availability of data about population, its composition, the financial position. For the purpose of taxation organized census, was conducted records of land, etc. The first work of this kind are marked even in the sacred books of various nations. In the ancient world was organized records of births, young people, aged 18, were made in the lists of military service, and upon reaching 20 years - in the list of full citizens. Compiled land inventory, which shall enter the buildings, slaves, livestock, inventory, income received. There were descriptions of states. Much of the credit for this belongs to the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-392 BC) - he was a description of 157 cities and states of his time.

The Middle Ages left a unique monument - "Domesday Book" (1061) - a set of materials of a comprehensive census of England and its property (including data on 240 thousand households). Over time, the gathering of data on mass public events has become a regular character; from the mid 19th century, thanks to the efforts of the great Belgian - mathematician, astronomer and Statistics Adolphe Quetelet (1796-1874) worked out the rules rewritten to this population and the regularity of their conduct in developed countries. To coordinate the development of statistics on the initiative of Quetelet were international statistical congresses, and in 1885 founded the International Statistical Institute, which exists today. International statistics are engaged international organizations - UN, FAO, UNESCO, ILO, EU, World Bank and other international organizations, and government statistics of each country involved in collecting, presenting, comparing, interpreting socio-economic data.

Other sections were developed in the statistical analysis of games of chance (gambling odds calculation), studying the processes of human reproduction. These rather complex methods based on probability theory, have been used primarily in the insurance and biology, then to the other natural sciences, psychology, and, since the early 20th century - socio-economic research, the study of living standards, consumer demand, etc. Thus, the statistics used in all areas.

In the study of different objects different methods are used. However, there are some general principles and methods of statistical work.

Statistics can identify and measure patterns of development socio-economic phenomena and processes, relationships between them. Knowledge of the regularity is only possible if study not separate phenomena, and the population of phenomena - in fact the regularities of social life are shown in full only in mass events. In each appearance must be something that is inherent in all phenomena of this kind, is shown in the unity with random, individual, inherent only to this particular phenomenon.

The regularities in which the need is inextricably linked to each phenomenon with chance, and only in a variety of phenomena manifests itself as a law, called the statistical regularities.

The property of statistical regularities appears only in the mass of phenomena in the generalization of data on a sufficiently large number of units. It is called the law of large numbers (LLN). According to LLN when considering a large mass of phenomena occasional deviation are not taken into account.

The object of statistics is society, phenomena and processes of public life.

The subject of statistics is quantitative and qualitative interconnections of mass phenomena at specific place and time.

The peculiaritiesособенностиof the subject are:

- the study of mass socio-economic phenomena,

- the description of a quantitative aspects of these phenomena taking into account the place and time in which they are occurred

- the identification and measurement of regularities of mass phenomena and processes.

The tasks of the subject are:

- to study regularities of mass socio-economic processes,

- to study parts of a population which consists of homogeneous units.

- to study dynamics of phenomena

The theoretical basisof statistics includes categories and concepts of the economic theory ( )

The main categories in the statistics are:

• statistical regularity;

• statistical population;

• population unit;

• statistical sign;

• statistical indicator.

Statistical regularityis consistency and order in mass processes (phenomena). For example - the dependence of birthrate on women's age.

Statistical population is a certain set of elements that are combined by the conditions of their development and existence.

Statistical population - many existing in time and space phenomena which vary, homogeneous on a particular basis, but may differ in other characteristics. An example of the statistical population is the country's commercial banks: it brings together nature of banking services, while capital, income and other characteristics are different. (a set of inhabitants of Kharkov, a set of students). Statistical population is the object of statistical study.

The homogeneous population is a population whose elements have similar properties and belong to the same type