Which statistics describe the data and trends within a single sample?

• A. Descriptive Statistics
• B. Inferential Statistics
• C. Hypothesis Testing
• D. Correlation Coefficients

Answer: (A)

Descriptive statistics are used to describe and summarize the data you have from one sample. They capture the main features of the dataset, such as measures of central tendency (like the mean, median, and mode), measures of variability (such as range, variance, and standard deviation), and the overall shape of the distribution. The goal is to present a clear picture of what the data look like without trying to draw conclusions about a larger population.

Inferential statistics, by contrast, aim to generalize findings from the sample to a broader group and include procedures like hypothesis testing. The correlation coefficient describes the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables, which is a more specific type of analysis and not a broad summary of a single sample’s data and trends.