Standard Practice for Calculating and Using Basic Statistics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice provides approaches for characterizing a sample of n observations that arrive in the form of a data set. Large data sets from organizations, businesses, and governmental agencies exist in the form of records and other empirical observations. Research institutions and laboratories at universities, government agencies, and the private sector also generate considerable amounts of empirical data.
A data set containing a single variable usually consists of a column of numbers. Each row is a separate observation or instance of measurement of the variable. The numbers themselves are the result of applying the measurement process to the variable being studied or observed. We may refer to each observation of a variable as an item in the data set. In many situations, there may be several variables defined for study.
The sample is selected from a larger set called the population. The population can be a finite set of items, a very large or essentially unlimited set of items, or a process. In a process, the items originate over time and the population is dynamic, continuing to emerge and possibly change over time. Sample data serve as representatives of the population from which the sample originates. It is the population that is of primary interest in any particular study.
The data (measurements and observations) may be of the variable type or the simple attribute type. In the case of attributes, the data may be either binary trials or a count of a defined event over some interval (time, space, volume, weight, or area). Binary trials consist of a sequence of 0s and 1s in which a “1” indicates that the inspected item exhibited the attribute being studied and a “0” indicates the item did not exhibit the attribute. Each inspection item is assigned either a “0” or a “1.” Such data are often governed by the binomial distribution. For a count of events over some interval, the number of times the event is observed on the inspection interval is recorded for each of...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers methods and equations for computing and presenting basic descriptive statistics using a set of sample data containing a single variable. This practice includes simple descriptive statistics for variable data, tabular and graphical methods for variable data, and methods for summarizing simple attribute data. Some interpretation and guidance for use is also included.
1.2 The system of units for this practice is not specified. Dimensional quantities in the practice are presented only as illustrations of calculation methods. The examples are not binding on products or test methods treated.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-Dec-2011
Technical Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

Relations

Buy Standard

Standard
ASTM E2586-12 - Standard Practice for Calculating and Using Basic Statistics
English language
16 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview
Standard
REDLINE ASTM E2586-12 - Standard Practice for Calculating and Using Basic Statistics
English language
16 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:E2586–12
Standard Practice for
1
Calculating and Using Basic Statistics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2586; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.2 characteristic, n—a property of items in a sample or
population which, when measured, counted, or otherwise
1.1 This practice covers methods and equations for comput-
observed, helps to distinguish among the items. E2282
ing and presenting basic descriptive statistics using a set of
3.1.3 coeffıcient of variation, CV, n—for a nonnegative
sample data containing a single variable.This practice includes
characteristic, the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean
simple descriptive statistics for variable data, tabular and
for a population or sample
graphical methods for variable data, and methods for summa-
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The coefficient of variation is often
rizing simple attribute data. Some interpretation and guidance
expressed as a percentage.
for use is also included.
3.1.3.2 Discussion—This statistic is also known as the
1.2 The system of units for this practice is not specified.
relative standard deviation, RSD.
Dimensional quantities in the practice are presented only as
3.1.4 confidence bound, n—see confidence limit.
illustrations of calculation methods. The examples are not
3.1.5 confidence coeffıcient, n—see confidence level.
binding on products or test methods treated.
3.1.6 confidence interval, n—an interval estimate [L, U]
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
with the statistics L and U as limits for the parameter u and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
with confidence level 1-a, where Pr(L# u# U)$ 1-a.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.6.1 Discussion—The confidence level, 1-a, reflects the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
proportion of cases that the confidence interval [L, U] would
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
containorcoverthetrueparametervalueinaseriesofrepeated
2. Referenced Documents
random samples under identical conditions. Once L and U are
2
given values, the resulting confidence interval either does or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
does not contain it. In this sense 9confidence9 applies not to the
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
particular interval but only to the long run proportion of cases
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
when repeating the procedure many times.
E2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test Method
3
3.1.7 confidence level, n—the value, 1-a, of the probability
2.2 ISO Standards:
associated with a confidence interval, often expressed as a
ISO 3534-1 Statistics—Vocabulary and Symbols, part 1:
percentage.
Probability and General Statistical Terms
3.1.7.1 Discussion—a is generally a small number. Confi-
ISO 3534-2 Statistics—Vocabulary and Symbols, part 2:
dence level is often 95 % or 99 %.
Applied Statistics
3.1.8 confidence limit, n—each of the limits, L and U, of a
3. Terminology
confidence interval, or the limit of a one-sided confidence
interval.
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.9 degrees of freedom, n—the number of independent
3.1.1 Unless otherwise noted, terms relating to quality and
data points minus the number of parameters that have to be
statistics are as defined in Terminology E456.
estimated before calculating the variance.
3.1.9.1 Discussion—The term ‘degrees of freedom’ is best
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E11 on Quality and
defined in the specific context of its use. For a general
Statistics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E11.10 on Sampling /
discussion, the following comments were reprinted from Box,
Statistics.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2012. Published February 2012. Originally
Hunter, and Hunter,
approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E2586 – 10a. DOI:
3.1.10 estimate, n—sample statistic used to approximate a
10.1520/E2586-12.
2
population parameter.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM 3.1.11 histogram, n—graphical representation of the fre-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
quency distribution of a characteristic consisting of a set of
the ASTM website.
rectangles with area proportional to the frequency.
3
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
ISO 3534-1
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyrigh
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:E2586–10a Designation:E2586–12
Standard Practice for
1
Calculating and Using Basic Statistics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2586; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers methods and equations for computing and presenting basic descriptive statistics using a set of sample
data containing a single variable. This practice includes simple descriptive statistics for variable data, tabular and graphical
methods for variable data, and methods for summarizing simple attribute data. Some interpretation and guidance for use is also
included.
1.2 Thesystemofunitsforthispracticeisnotspecified.Dimensionalquantitiesinthepracticearepresentedonlyasillustrations
of calculation methods. The examples are not binding on products or test methods treated.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test Method
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 3534-1 Statistics—Vocabulary and Symbols, part 1: Probability and General Statistical Terms
ISO 3534-2 Statistics—Vocabulary and Symbols, part 2: Applied Statistics
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Unless otherwise noted, terms relating to quality and statistics are as defined in Terminology E456.
3.1.2 characteristic, n—a property of items in a sample or population which, when measured, counted, or otherwise observed,
helps to distinguish among the items. E2282
3.1.3 coeffıcient of variation, CV, n—for a nonnegative characteristic, the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean for a
population or sample
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The coefficient of variation is often expressed as a percentage.
3.1.3.2 Discussion—This statistic is also known as the relative standard deviation, RSD.
3.1.4 confidence bound, n—see confidence limit.
3.1.5 confidence coeffıcient, n—see confidence level.
3.1.6 confidence interval, n—an interval estimate [L, U] with the statistics L and U as limits for the parameter u and with
confidence level 1-a, where Pr(L# u# U)$ 1-a.
3.1.6.1 Discussion—Theconfidencelevel,1-a,reflectstheproportionofcasesthattheconfidenceinterval[L,U]wouldcontain
orcoverthetrueparametervalueinaseriesofrepeatedrandomsamplesunderidenticalconditions.OnceLandUaregivenvalues,
the resulting confidence interval either does or does not contain it. In this sense 9confidence9 applies not to the particular interval
but only to the long run proportion of cases when repeating the procedure many times.
3.1.7 confidence level, n—the value, 1-a, of the probability associated with a confidence interval, often expressed as a
percentage.
3.1.7.1 Discussion—a is generally a small number. Confidence level is often 95 % or 99 %.
1
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE11onQualityandStatisticsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeE11.10onSampling/Statistics.
Current edition approved Sept.Jan. 1, 2010.2012. Published October 2010.February 2012. Originally approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as
E2586 – 10a. DOI: 10.1520/E2586-10A.10.1520/E2586-12.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2586–12
3.1.8 confidence limit, n—each of the limits, L and U, of a confidence interval, or the limit of a one-sided confidence interval.
3.1.9 degrees of freedom, n—the number of independent data points minus the number of parameters that have to be estimated
before calculating the variance.
3.1.9.1 Discussion—
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.