Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Statistics is a branch of mathematics concerned with the collection, organization, analysis,
interpretation, and presentation of numerical data. It plays a vital role in research because it
helps researchers convert raw data into meaningful information. Statistics is broadly
classified into theoretical and applied statistics. Descriptive and inferential statistics fall
under applied statistics.
In simple terms, descriptive statistics is used to summarize and describe the features
of a dataset, while inferential statistics is used to draw conclusions or make
predictions about a larger population based on sample data.
For example, if 100 people are asked whether they like shopping at a mall, the responses
can be shown using charts or percentages through descriptive statistics. If the researcher
uses these responses to predict whether most people in the city like the mall, inferential
statistics is being used.
Descriptive Statistics
Descriptive statistics refers to methods used to organize, summarize, and present data in a
meaningful manner. It helps in simplifying large amounts of information so that it can be
easily understood. In simple terms, descriptive statistics answers the question: “What does
the data show?”
Raw data by itself may be confusing, especially when dealing with large numbers.
Descriptive statistics converts such raw data into understandable forms like averages,
percentages, charts, graphs, and tables.
It focuses only on the data collected and does not make predictions beyond that data.
For example, if a researcher surveys 500 people about their preferred news platform, the
responses can be summarized using percentages showing how many prefer television,
newspapers, radio, or digital media. This is descriptive statistics because it describes the
collected responses.
Descriptive statistics describes the important characteristics/ properties of the data using the
measures the central tendency like mean/ median/mode and the measures of dispersion like
range, standard deviation, variance etc. subsequently, data can be summarized and
represented in an accurate way using charts, tables and graphs.
Measures of Central Tendency
These indicate the central or average value of the data.
● Mean: Arithmetic average of all values
Statistics is a branch of mathematics concerned with the collection, organization, analysis,
interpretation, and presentation of numerical data. It plays a vital role in research because it
helps researchers convert raw data into meaningful information. Statistics is broadly
classified into theoretical and applied statistics. Descriptive and inferential statistics fall
under applied statistics.
In simple terms, descriptive statistics is used to summarize and describe the features
of a dataset, while inferential statistics is used to draw conclusions or make
predictions about a larger population based on sample data.
For example, if 100 people are asked whether they like shopping at a mall, the responses
can be shown using charts or percentages through descriptive statistics. If the researcher
uses these responses to predict whether most people in the city like the mall, inferential
statistics is being used.
Descriptive Statistics
Descriptive statistics refers to methods used to organize, summarize, and present data in a
meaningful manner. It helps in simplifying large amounts of information so that it can be
easily understood. In simple terms, descriptive statistics answers the question: “What does
the data show?”
Raw data by itself may be confusing, especially when dealing with large numbers.
Descriptive statistics converts such raw data into understandable forms like averages,
percentages, charts, graphs, and tables.
It focuses only on the data collected and does not make predictions beyond that data.
For example, if a researcher surveys 500 people about their preferred news platform, the
responses can be summarized using percentages showing how many prefer television,
newspapers, radio, or digital media. This is descriptive statistics because it describes the
collected responses.
Descriptive statistics describes the important characteristics/ properties of the data using the
measures the central tendency like mean/ median/mode and the measures of dispersion like
range, standard deviation, variance etc. subsequently, data can be summarized and
represented in an accurate way using charts, tables and graphs.
Measures of Central Tendency
These indicate the central or average value of the data.
● Mean: Arithmetic average of all values
