Which statement describes descriptive statistics?

Question

Options

• AA branch of statistics that uses a variety of data analysis techniques to infer properties of an
• BA branch of statistics that uses summary statistics to categorically describe and summarize data.
• CA branch of statistics that uses summary statistics to quantitatively describe and summarize data.
• DA branch of statistics that uses quantitative variables that must take on a finite or countably

• A
  15% (6)
• B
  7% (3)
• C
  76% (31)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

Descriptive statistics uses quantitative summary measures (mean, median, standard deviation, etc.) to describe and summarize data - making C correct. The key word "quantitatively" distinguishes it: descriptive stats produce numerical summaries of what the data actually shows.

• A describes inferential statistics, which uses samples to make inferences or predictions about a larger population - a fundamentally different branch.
• B is close but uses "categorically," which implies grouping into categories (like categorical/nominal data), not producing numerical summaries. This subtle word swap makes it wrong.
• D describes a discrete variable definition, not a branch of statistics at all - it's a distractor from a different concept entirely.

Memory tip: Think "Describe = Descriptive = numbers that describe your data directly." If you're summarizing what you already have (mean, range, histogram), that's descriptive. If you're making a guess beyond your data, that's inferential.

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