Descriptive and Inferential statistics descriptive and Inferential statistics statistics, a branch of mathematics that focuses on the organization, analysis, and interpretation of a group of numbers (Aron, Aron, and Coups, 2006, p.2), play a very influential role in the field of psychology. Psychologists use descriptive statistics to summarize and describe a group of numbers from a research study. Inferential statistics are used to draw educational conclusions and inferences based on numbers from research, but psychologists take the information further than the numbers (Aron, Aron, and Coups, 2006). There are many functions of statistics and examples between the two types are also abundant.
Functions of StatisticsWhat is the function of statistics? In order to answer this question, a definite definition must be specified. After reviewing many sources, a compilation of many different definitions has been put together. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, statistics is a numerical value that characterizes information from which it was taken (Houghton Mifflin, 2006).
An example of a 3 x 2 descriptive statistics table...
The manifold paths of biology
English: Descriptive statistics for a dataset with...At Dictionary.com statistics is æÂÂhe science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data, and that by use of mathematical theories of probability, imposes order and regularity on aggregates of more or less disparate elements (Random House, 2006). So, in language that anyone could understand statistics is a code of numbers, which tells significant information that a person has questions or concerns about. The process is simple. After the researcher retrieves information based on a hypothesis, or simply out of curiosity, he uses mathematical equations to transform the information into a set of numbers. After the numbers are presented, several kinds of information can be extracted, depending on what is needed.
Defining Descriptive and Inferential StatisticsDescriptive statistics consolidates detailed data into a simplified format for easy interpretation. This type of statistics takes quantitative details and summarizes...