Practical Data Analysis with JMP®

Populations, Processes, and Samples

We analyze data because we want to understand something about variation within a population—a collection of people or objects that we're interested in. Sometimes we're more interested in the variability of a process—an ongoing natural or artificial activity (like the occurrences of earthquakes or fluctuating stock prices). We identify one or more variables of interest and either count or measure them.

In most cases it is impossible or impractical to gather data from every single individual within a population or every instance from an on-going process. Marine biologists who study communication among dolphins cannot possibly measure every living dolphin. Manufacturers wanting to know how quickly a building ...