Statistics

Statistical analysis is used to make sense of and compare quantitative data. Conservators use, or ought to be able to use, statistics as part of any research they carry out. They should also be able to follow the statistical analysis that they find in published papers.

Despite some deep suspicions on most people’s part, and the evidence presented by the quotations at the bottom of the slides, statistical analysis is concerned with finding how close we are to “The Truth.”

After completing this tutorial, you will be able to:

• Describe the meanings of the terms "sample mean" and "true mean"
• Understand the distinction between the mean, the mode, and the median
• Calculate the mean, the mode, and median
• Describe the standard deviation and its relation to the mean
• Identify two statistically valid methods to determine whether to keep or discard outliers
• Recognize the importance of precision and accuracy
• Understand the use of confidence levels in describing experimental results

 Enter tutorial.

Useful links on this topic:

• Central Limit Theorem explanation
• GraphPad and QuickCalcs
• Histograms
• Lindley, Dennis V.; Scott, William F.; New Cambridge Statistical Tables, 2 edition; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1995.
• Miller, J.C.; Miller, J.N.; Statistics for Analytical Chemistry, 2nd edition; Ellis Horwood: New York, 1992.
• JAIC Online