Deatils of limitation of statistics

Answer 1

Limitations of statistics:

Statistics with all its wide application in every sphere of

human activity has its own limitations. Some of them are given

below.

1. Statistics is not suitable to the study of qualitative

phenomenon: Since statistics is basically a science and deals

with a set of numerical data, it is applicable to the study of

only these subjects of enquiry, which can be expressed in

terms of quantitative measurements. As a matter of fact,

qualitative phenomenon like honesty, poverty, beauty,

intelligence etc, cannot be expressed numerically and any

statistical analysis cannot be directly applied on these

qualitative phenomenons. Nevertheless, statistical techniques

may be applied indirectly by first reducing the qualitative

expressions to accurate quantitative terms. For example, the

intelligence of a group of students can be studied on the basis

of their marks in a particular examination.

2. Statistics does not study individuals: Statistics does not

give any specific importance to the individual items, in fact it

deals with an aggregate of objects. Individual items, when

they are taken individually do not constitute any statistical

data and do not serve any purpose for any statistical enquiry.

3. Statistical laws are not exact: It is well known that

mathematical and physical sciences are exact. But statistical

laws are not exact and statistical laws are only

approximations. Statistical conclusions are not universally

true. They are true only on an average.

4. Statistics table may be misused: Statistics must be used

only by experts; otherwise, statistical methods are the most

dangerous tools on the hands of the inexpert. The use of

statistical tools by the inexperienced and untraced persons

might lead to wrong conclusions. Statistics can be easily

misused by quoting wrong figures of data.

5. Statistics is only, one of the methods of studying a

problem:

Statistical method do not provide complete solution of the

problems because problems are to be studied taking the

background of the countries culture, philosophy or religion

into consideration.