---
title: Statistic
description: "A number describing data. #### Details A sample statistic summarises some aspect of sample data, it is generally also treated as an estimate, perhaps a least worst estimate, of a \"population parameter\". For example if the mean baseline CORE-OM score…"
url: "https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/statistic/"
updated: "2024-05-20"
category: All OM book glossary entries
---

# Statistic

A number describing data.

#### Details

A sample statistic summarises some aspect of sample data, it is generally also treated as an estimate, perhaps a least worst estimate, of a "population parameter". For example if the mean baseline CORE-OM score from a year of data collection in a service is 24.3 that *is*the sample mean: it *is*the total of all the scores divided by the number of scores, it *is*an indicator of central location and be compared with that from another service. That is "descriptive statistics". At the same time it may be regarded as a best guess of the mean for that service next year, or for all similar services: the population of interest to which perhaps we are interested in generalising this particular finding.

#### Try also

[Confidence intervals (CI)](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/confidence-intervals-cis/)
[Descriptive statistics](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/descriptive-statistics/)
[Estimate, estimation](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/estimate-estimation/)
[Generalisability](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/generalisability/)
[Population](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/population/)
Statistical power

#### Chapters

Mainly chapter 4 but the idea runs through all the subsequent chapters.

#### Dates

Created 2.xi.21, links tweaked 20.v.24.