Index
What is statistics for in daily life?
Statistics is a discipline that allows us to numerically observe the trend of data that arise in a certain field or process. It is essential to learn how it works and the ways in which it can be optimized or improved.
Statistics are used to:
- Data collection and processing
- Facilitate decision making
- Determine the resources to assign to a project
- Improve prospects in economic matters
- Estimate possible outcomes
- Improve distribution of resources in disasters
- Regulate consumption and expenses
Data collection and processing
Statistics are responsible for establishing the procedures for data collection , which are adequate to be able to express an opinion regarding an aspect of society or industry.
Among the functions used by statistics are:
- Carry out the situation assessment
- Census population and resources
- Issue diagnoses of economic and social problems
- Offer parameters to estimate results
- Issue a judgment on issues or problems of a social nature
- Facilitate decision making
- Calculate the number of people affected during a disaster
- Measure population density
- Registration of ages and genders of people
- Measure the effects of a drug
- Predicting the extent of a phenomenon
- Know the preferences of consumers of various products
- Conduct market research
- Development of military strategies
- Measure markets within advertising agencies
- Know or calculate electoral preferences
- Measure a company’s resources for future investments
Facilitate decision making
Statistics allow us to develop a compendium of useful data that allow us to see the panorama of our situation. Making a decision becomes much easier, since the consequence of each action we take can be expressed mathematically , before we define the way to proceed.
Determine the resources to assign to a project
Statistics allow us to judge expenses, costs and various factors that influence the realization of a project, as well as the possible definition of the consequences that could exist in case of making a choice.
Improve prospects in economic matters
Through statistics, we can detect failures in economic policies. The most representative factors in the management of economic resources by the government and government entities can be found and analyzed.
Improvements can be made in the distribution of the budget, focusing it on the most essential, needy or productive sectors.
Estimate possible outcomes
Statistics, thanks to the fact that it expresses the development of a phenomenon in a numerical way, offers us an idea of the possible results that acting on it will have. For example, in the case of sports, the data allows us to know which team has been victorious on the most occasions, and which other has lost more games, which prompts us to try to predict a next result.
Improve distribution of resources in disasters
Statistics make it possible to better record and perceive the relevance of data referring to damage during a natural disaster or catastrophe. By observing and interpreting this information, it will be possible to decide which area of the city should receive more financial or civilian support.
For example, in cases where there is material damage due to natural disasters or pests, statistics allow us to know the magnitude and scope of these. It will be possible to decide where the resources will be more concentrated to cover the most urgent matters and to restore the sectors.
Regulate consumption and expenses
By means of statistical techniques, values can be recognized that allow us to analyze and act accordingly, to improve the production and distribution of products, according to the consumption of resources in a certain sector.
For example, you can study the cost of fuel for delivery vehicles that leave a production plant. Data can be collected on the routes they follow and the fuel required, and as a result it will be possible to find an optimal route and a lower cost.
Dr. Samantha Robson ( CRN: 0510146-5) is a nutritionist and website content reviewer related to her area of expertise. With a postgraduate degree in Nutrition from The University of Arizona, she is a specialist in Sports Nutrition from Oxford University and is also a member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.