Question

Please explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics. Please provide and / or illustrations to support your responses.

Answer 1

Statistics have two major divisions.

Descriptive statistics define what is the trend of overall population whereas inferential statistics allows scientist to take sample and then generalize into larger groups.

Statistical tools such as mean median, average etc are used in descriptive statistics. There is exploration of coreelation between paired data. Whereas inferential statistics allow complex mathematical calculations since there is sample on which experiment is conducted such as logistic regression, linear regression analyses, ANOVA.

Result in the final form is by tables, piecharts, graohs etc in differential statistics whereas in inferential statistics the result is in the form of probablity.

Illustatrations - The descriptive statistics may measure how many girls students in a state get first class in the final exam of graduation. Here obtaining entire data, taking median, average is easy. eg: 50% girls obtain first class, 60% appear for the exam etc.

Inferential statics example - Eg: students having good logical IQ may do well in Maths final exam of school, here insead of collecting entire population's data, only a handful of people of having considerable logical IQ are tested and then conclusions, probablity statistics are being laid down.