Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

Descriptive Statistics

Descriptive statistics focuses on describing data that we have collected. It shows or summarizes data using statistical measures, such as average, median, standard deviation, etc.


Ex. Of 100 randomly selected people in the city of Manila, Philippines, 70 people regularly drink coffee. An example of descriptive statistics is the following statement :



"70% of these people living in Manila regularly drink coffee."  This is a descriptive statement because it can actually be verified from the information provided.

 

Inferential Statistics

Inferential statistics aims to make generalizations, estimates, predictions, decisions, or draw conclusions about the population from the sample at hand.


Ex. Of 100 randomly selected people in the city of Manila, Philippines, 70 people regularly drink coffee. An example of inferential statistics is the following statement :



"70% of all people in the Philippines regularly drink coffee."  We have no information about all people living in the Philippines, just about the 100 living in Manila. We have taken that information and generalized it to talk about all people living in the Philippines. The easiest way to tell that this statement is not descriptive is by trying to verify it based upon the information provided.