When Would You Use Descriptive Over Inferential Statistics?

 Inferential statistics helps us to analyze predictions, inferences, or samples about a specific population from the observations that they make. “With inferential statistics, you are trying to reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone” (Trochim, 2006). The goal for this type of data is to review the sample data to be able to infer what the test group may think. It does this by making judgment of the chance that a difference that is observed between the groups is indeed one that can be counted on that could have otherwise happened by coincidence. In order to help solve the issue of generalization, tests of significance are used. For example, a chi-square test or T-test provides a person with the probability that the analysis’ sample results may or may not represent the respective population. In other words, the tests of significance provides us the likelihood of how the analysis results might have happened by chance in a scenario that a relationship may not exist between the variables in regards to the population that is being studied.

Week Seven Homework Exercise Answer the following questions, covering material from Ch. 13 of Methods in Behavioral Research Define inferential statistics and how researchers use inferential statistics to draw conclusions from sample data. According to Cozby (2009) inferential statistics are used to determine whether we can in fact make statements that the results reflect what would happen if we were to conduct the experiment again and again with multiple samples Define probability and discuss how it relates to the concept of statistical significance. Probability is the possible that an outcome of an experience or an event will occur (Cozby 2009) Statistical significant and probability are one in the same. A researcher is studying the

• Provide at least two examples or problem situations in which statistics was used or could be used.

The goal of inferential statistics is to end up rejecting the null hypothesis and concluding that a significant relationship exists; therefore, the null hypothesis always presume no relationship.

Descriptive statistics are digits that are used to summarize and describe a given range of data (Klenke, 2008). Basic descriptive data includes, mean, median, mode, variance and standard deviation. The data can be rearranged in an ascending order as follows:

The last few weeks we covered descriptive statistic: the central tendency, variability, correlation and Z-score. Today’s session is a little bit different, we will be talking about statistical significance. Statistical significance is the level of risk one is willing to take to reject or accept a null hypothesis while it is true and it separate random error from systematic error. When doing a study or research, the statistical significance shows that the difference obtained were not caused by chance. Inferential statistics, the T-test, partition noise from bias by studying a random sample than the population in which we are interested and from the results we infer. The advantage of using sample than a population, it is convenient, saves time, energy and money because n is smaller than population and above all it helps to control systematic and random errors. When we are making a conclusion, we should have a certain confidence or probability of being right and that is called the alpha level; which the risk you are willing to

The information in the table below refers to the 2008 model year product line of BMW automobiles. Identify the Individuals, variables, and data corresponding to the variables in the table below. Determine whether each variable is qualitative, continuous, or, discrete. Please refer to problems #51 and #53 on page 13 for examples.

5.     Compare and contrast parametric and nonparametric statistics. Why and in what types of cases would you use one over the other?

In order to know whether the evidence of research studies are accurate, one must be able to have a fundamental understanding in statistical analyses to determine if such descriptions and findings within manuscripts and articles are presented correctly and explicitly (Sullivan, 2012). Proper use of statistics begins with the understanding of both descriptive and inferential statistics. Correct organization and description of data characteristics from the population sample being studied leads the researcher to identify a hypothesis and formulate inferences about such characteristics. It is with inferential statistics that researchers conduct appropriate tests of significance and determine whether to accept or reject the identified null

When analyzing data, such as the marks achieved by 100 students for a piece of coursework, it is possible to use both descriptive and inferential statistics in your analysis of their marks. Typically, in most research conducted on groups of people, you will use both descriptive and inferential statistics to analyses your results and draw conclusions. So what are descriptive and inferential statistics? And what are their differences? Descriptive statistics is the term given to the analysis of data that helps describe, show or summarize data in a meaningful way such that, for example, patterns might emerge from the data. Descriptive statistics do not, however, allow us to make conclusions beyond the data we have analyzed or reach conclusions regarding any hypotheses we might have made. They are simply a way to describe our data.

2. Inferential statistics refers to generalizing from a sample to a population, estimating unknown parameters, drawing conclusions, and making decisions.

Statistics is a mathematical science pertaining to the collection, analysis, interpretation or explanation, and presentation of data. It is applicable to a wide variety of academic disciplines, from the physical and social sciences to the humanities. Statistics are also used for making informed decisions – and misused for other reasons – in all areas of business and government. Statistical methods can be used to summarize or describe a collection of data; this is called descriptive statistics. In addition, patterns in the data may be modeled in a way that accounts for randomness and uncertainty in the observations, and then used to draw inferences about the process or population being studied; this is called inferential statistics. Both

A sample can include any object or characteristic in a population. It is necessary to use samples for research, because it is impractical to study the whole population. The author is asking the student; How can we make inferences about whole populations from samples drawn from the population? By inferential statistics.

number 23 out of 30 top salaries in the league, they also had 96 wins

Major League Baseball is known as America’s favorite pastime, and MLB teams spend an extensive amount of money in the excess of a billion dollars with the ultimate goal to win the World Series. This learning team’s focus throughout this descriptive statistics paper is the MLB players’ performances, salaries, salary caps, and winning percentages. Though salaries will by no means be a trade for wins, the goal is to use the less experienced players and pay them a lower salary. Research has been done on whether or not player’s salaries and wins are connected.