Inferential analysis of data.

Abstract

This chapter introduces the concept of inferential data analysis, in the context of leisure, recreation and tourism research. This form of analysis is used to make general conclusions about a large population based on a sample of that population. The use of inferential analysis relies upon random sampling of members of the larger group of people one is interested in knowing about. The sampling error and confidence interval are directly related to the size of the sample and the amount of variability in the study data. These two aspects of the generated data also influence the statistical significance of the inferential statistics used to test relationships among the variables in the data set. The chapter also provides some further discussion on the importance and meaning of tested relationships from a managerial standpoint.