In statistics, a unit of observation is the unit described by the data that one analyzes. A study may treat groups as a unit of observation with a country as the unit of analysis, drawing conclusions on group characteristics from data collected at the national level. For example, in a study of the demand for money, the unit of observation might be chosen as the individual, with different observations (data points) for a given point in time differing as to which individual they refer to; or the unit of observation might be the country, with different observations differing only in regard to the country they refer to.
The unit of observation should not be confused with the unit of analysis. A study may have a differing unit of observation and unit of analysis: for example, in community research, the research design may collect data at the individual level of observation but the level of analysis might be at the neighborhood level, drawing conclusions on neighborhood characteristics from data collected from individuals. Together, the unit of observation and the level of analysis define the population of a research enterprise.[1]
Data pointedit
A data point or observation is a set of one or more measurements on a single member of the unit of observation. For example, in a study of the determinants of money demand with the unit of observation being the individual, a data point might be the values of income, wealth, age of individual, and number of dependents. Statistical inference about the population would be conducted using a statistical sample consisting of various such data points.
In addition, in statistical graphics, a "data point" may be an individual item with a statistical display; such points may relate to either a single member of a population or to a summary statistic calculated for a given subpopulation.
Types of dataedit
The measurements contained in a unit of observation are formally typed, where here type is used in a way compatible with datatype in computing; so that the type of measurement can specify whether the measurement results in a Boolean value from {yes, no}, an integer or real number, the identity of some category, or some vector or array.
The implication of point is often that the data may be plotted in a graphic display, but in many cases the data are processed numerically before that is done. In the context of statistical graphics, measured values for individuals or summary statistics for different subpopulations are displayed as separate symbols within a display; since such symbols can differ by shape, size and colour, a single data point within a display can convey multiple aspects of the set of measurements for an individual or subpopulation.
^Blalock, Hubert M. Jr. (1972). Social Statistics. New York: McGraw–Hill. ISBN0-07-005751-6.
January 01, 1970
unit, observation, confused, with, unit, measurement, statistics, unit, observation, unit, described, data, that, analyzes, study, treat, groups, unit, observation, with, country, unit, analysis, drawing, conclusions, group, characteristics, from, data, collec. Not to be confused with unit of measurement In statistics a unit of observation is the unit described by the data that one analyzes A study may treat groups as a unit of observation with a country as the unit of analysis drawing conclusions on group characteristics from data collected at the national level For example in a study of the demand for money the unit of observation might be chosen as the individual with different observations data points for a given point in time differing as to which individual they refer to or the unit of observation might be the country with different observations differing only in regard to the country they refer to Contents 1 Unit of observation vs unit of analysis 2 Data point 3 Types of data 4 See also 5 ReferencesUnit of observation vs unit of analysis editThe unit of observation should not be confused with the unit of analysis A study may have a differing unit of observation and unit of analysis for example in community research the research design may collect data at the individual level of observation but the level of analysis might be at the neighborhood level drawing conclusions on neighborhood characteristics from data collected from individuals Together the unit of observation and the level of analysis define the population of a research enterprise 1 Data point editA data point or observation is a set of one or more measurements on a single member of the unit of observation For example in a study of the determinants of money demand with the unit of observation being the individual a data point might be the values of income wealth age of individual and number of dependents Statistical inference about the population would be conducted using a statistical sample consisting of various such data points In addition in statistical graphics a data point may be an individual item with a statistical display such points may relate to either a single member of a population or to a summary statistic calculated for a given subpopulation Types of data editThe measurements contained in a unit of observation are formally typed where here type is used in a way compatible with datatype in computing so that the type of measurement can specify whether the measurement results in a Boolean value from yes no an integer or real number the identity of some category or some vector or array The implication of point is often that the data may be plotted in a graphic display but in many cases the data are processed numerically before that is done In the context of statistical graphics measured values for individuals or summary statistics for different subpopulations are displayed as separate symbols within a display since such symbols can differ by shape size and colour a single data point within a display can convey multiple aspects of the set of measurements for an individual or subpopulation See also editObservation error Sample pointReferences edit Blalock Hubert M Jr 1972 Social Statistics New York McGraw Hill ISBN 0 07 005751 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Unit of observation amp oldid 1183016608 Data point, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
