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A statistic is a value that has been produced from the collection of data*. Statistics refer to the practice of collecting, analysing, interpreting, communicating and/or representing data or information.
The table below outlines types of statistics.
Type |
Definition |
| Descriptive statistics | Also known as summary statistics, which summarise raw data to enable easier interpretation. Can be used to describe the shape, centre and spread of a dataset. |
| Inferential statistics | Used to draw conclusions (or generalisations) about a population, from a sample of that population; includes estimation and hypothesis testing. |
Data is the raw information from which statistics are created, and is often the direct result of research that was conducted as part of a study or survey. It is a primary source that usually comes in the form of a digital dataset that can be analysed using specific software such as SPSS, SAS or Excel.
Key publishers of data include:
*Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, What statistics are 2024.