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Codebook for arbuthnot dataset

Codebook: Arbuthnot London Births Dataset

Where to find it

  • Dataset name: arbuthnot
  • Location: Loaded automatically when the openintro package is loaded. Also available online at https://github.com/CUNY-epibios/PUBH614/tree/main/datasets
  • Download the dataset now

Option 1: load this dataset from the openintro package:

Option 2: load this dataset manually

Dataset Overview

This dataset contains historical records of births in London from 1629 to 1710, as recorded by John Arbuthnot. The dataset includes 82 observations with 4 variables, documenting the number of boys and girls christened each year.

Variables

year

  • Description: Calendar year of birth records
  • Type: Numeric (integer)
  • Range: 1629 to 1710
  • Missing values: None

boys

  • Description: Number of male children christened in London
  • Type: Numeric (integer)
  • Range: 2,890 to 8,426
  • Missing values: None

girls

  • Description: Number of female children christened in London
  • Type: Numeric (integer)
  • Range: 2,722 to 7,779
  • Missing values: None

Time Period Coverage

  • Start year: 1629
  • End year: 1710
  • Total years: 82

Birth Totals

  • Total boys christened: 484,382
  • Total girls christened: 453,841
  • Overall boy/girl ratio: 1.067

Annual Averages

  • Average boys per year: 5,907
  • Average girls per year: 5,535
  • Minimum total births (1650): 5,612
  • Maximum total births (1705): 16,145

Summary Statistics

Data Quality Notes

  • The dataset is complete with no missing values
  • All counts are positive integers
  • Consistent annual records for the entire period
  • Data represents christenings rather than all births, so actual birth numbers may have been higher

Historical Context

This dataset was compiled by John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), a Scottish physician, mathematician, and satirist. He used these records to study the ratio of male to female births, making it one of the earliest known applications of statistical reasoning to a scientific question.

Source

The original data comes from the London Bills of Mortality, which recorded christenings, burials, and causes of death in London parishes from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Acknowledgements

This codebook was drafted by Microsoft Copilot and edited by Levi Waldron.