Educational Statistics

Statistics is a developed discipline supported by scientific method for collection, analysis and interpretation of both qualitative and quantitative data. The word 'Statistics' has come to be used in two senses viz, 

as numerical data; and 

as statistical methods

In the first sense, statistics is a numerical description of quantitative aspect of things. Numerical facts like height, weight, income, expenditure, temperature, rainfall, price of goods, marks on different tests, etc. are referred to as statistical data. 

But these datas are to be turbulated, classified, analysed and interpreted properly and for all these, we use statistical methods. Thus, in the second sense, statistics refers to the statistical principles and methods used in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. 

Furthermore, summarized figures of numerical facts such as percentages, averages, means, medians, modes and standard deviations are also called statistics. Tate (1955) has summarized the different meanings with the following witty comment —

"It's all perfectly clear; you compute statistics (mean, median, mode, etc.) from statistics (numerical facts) by statistics (statistical methods). 

Today, statistics is considered to be a scientific method. It systematically and quite significantly deals with the description of data collected by observation, measurement and calculation. According to Ferguson — "statistics deals with the collection, classification, description and interpretation of data obtained by conducts of surveys and experiments". 

It is one of the subjects of study that helps us in the scientific collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of numerical facts. 

Needs of Educational Statistics:

    Statistics is valuable in the collection of facts (numerical or otherwise); the classification, organization and summarization of numerical facts; in drawing general conclusions and inferences. 

    Statistics is an indispensable instrument in educational evaluation and measurement. Statistics helps evaluation and management by I) constructing and standardizing various tests and Measurement like intelligence tests, interest tests, aptitude tests etc. II) by using the tests properly by presenting, comparing, analyzing and interpreting the results of these tests and Measurement. 

    Statistics helps teachers in-

I) knowing individual differences of his students;

II) comparing the suitability of one method of teaching with another;

III) making predictions regarding the future progress of the students; 

IV) making selection, classification and promotion of the students; and 

V) maintaining various types of records. 

    In the research sector, statistical methods help researchers in carrying out researches successfully. Statistics and its methods help the practitioners —students, teachers, educationalists —to keep abreast of the latest development and research. They are helped in reading and understanding the reports of applied and theoretical research, including various statistical terms. The interpretation and proper use of the results of researchers also become possible with proper knowledge of statistics. According to Gardner (1973), statistics permit us the most exact kind of description and enables us to summarize our results in a meaningful and convenient form. 

    Statistics is required in any planning activities at wide level. Statistics gives us summarized idea of any field, for example the population statistics gives us an idea of birth-rate, death-rate, rate of population-growth etc., while agricultural statistics gives us picture of crop-yield; types of irrigated and non-irrigated lands, their size; concentration of production etc. 

Statistics is also widely used in business and commerce where it helps to estimate potential demand of services and goods, cost-price and profits. It is also quite helpful to bankers, investors and stock-exchange brokers and insurance companies. Public concerns like railways, electric supply companies, water supply agencies etc. also make extensive use of statistics. Even the common citizen requires knowledge of statistics to keep himself abreast of statistical data relating to health, incidence of crime and accidents, population trends and such other affairs that affect his economic and social life. 

Statistics in Education:

    In the field of education statistics is mostly used to analyse and interpret the scores obtained by different individuals. Statistics helps us to study human traits more objectively. Statistics is fundamental to all efficient teaching Programmes. Educational measurement and evaluation widely use statistical methods for interpretation of scores. Teachers undertake many actions, research projects to solve their peculiar educational problems. Statistical procedures helps us to draw right (unbiased) conclusions and thus they are employed in most of the research projects. 

    Teachers administer different tests viz, achievement tests, aptitude tests, interest inventories, personality tests etc. and the students obtain different scores on such tests. 

Scores are just numerical description (indications) of an individual's performance. But what do these scores mean? 

Suppose Ran secures 62 in GE2 Sociology. What does this tell about his performance? Is he a superior child or mediocre? What percentage of children does he surpass? How has he done in comparison to other students of his group? Statistics helps us to answer such questions. 

For due interpretation of scored a knowledge of statistics and statistical procedures is quite essential. For educational planning and decision making statistics also plays a vital role.