Learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• understand and use standard symbols and notation: for the pth value in a data set when the values are written in order, the sample lower and upper quartiles and the sample median, the sample mean and the standard deviation

• understand that data can have a pattern which may be represented graphically

• understand that the standard deviation and the interquartile range are measures of the dispersion in a data set

• understand that the median and the interquartile range are more resistant measures than are the mean and the standard deviation

• identify an overall 'feel' for data and the way it is distributed by constructing appropriate graphical displays.