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1a difference between inferential and descriptive statistics (explanation)

The document discusses descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures like the range, mode, and mean. Inferential statistics draw conclusions about a larger population based on analyzing a sample, allowing inferences to be made about the population. The example shows a teacher using descriptive statistics to answer a parent's questions about their child's spelling test scores and the class data. The parent then asks inferential questions comparing the class to other groups, allowing the teacher to infer how the sample class compares more broadly.

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Determining whether to use Inferential and Descriptive Statistics Learning Module: Explanation
Welcome to this learning module!
In this module you will learn the difference between
Inferential and Descriptive statistics!
In later modules you will then determine when a question should be answered with one or the other.
First, Descriptive statistics!
Simply put, descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures.
Simply put, descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures. And that’s it!
Simply put, descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures. And that’s it! Here’s an example
Meet Mrs. Graham,
a fifth Grade teacher having a parent teacher conference.
The parent has some questions about her son Bobby.
She will base her answers off of a class data set.
She will base her answers off of a class data set. Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31
She will base her answers off of a class data set. Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Data
She will base her answers off of a class data set. Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Data Set
Here are the parent’s questions with Mrs. Graham’s answers Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 What was Bobby’s score?
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 32
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Out of how many possible?
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 50
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 What were the highest and lowest scores?
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Highest 50, Lowest 31
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 What was the class average?
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 About 42
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 What was the most common score?
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 45
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Look’s like Bobby needs more study time!
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 That’s probably a good idea.
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31
Back to our definition: Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31
descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31
descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Data Set
descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures Numerical Measures Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Data Set
descriptive statistics describe the features of a data set using numerical measures Numerical Measures Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Highest to Lowest Score – THE RANGE Bella 43 Most Common Score – THE MODE Betty 45 Average Score – THE MEAN Bobby 32 Etc. Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Data Set
Now for Inferential statistics! • While descriptive statistics focus on describing a data set, • Inferential statistics aims to draw conclusions about a larger group (called a population), • based on what is happening with a smaller group (called a sample). • Inferential statistics studies a statistical sample, and from this analysis is able to say something about the population from which the sample came.
• While descriptive statistics focus on describing a data set, • Inferential statistics aims to draw conclusions about a larger group (called a population), • based on what is happening with a smaller group (called a sample). • Inferential statistics studies a statistical sample, and from this analysis is able to say something about the population from which the sample came.
• While descriptive statistics focus on describing a data set, • Inferential statistics aims to draw conclusions or INFER about a larger group (called a population), • based on what is happening with a smaller group (called a sample). • Inferential statistics studies a statistical sample, and from this analysis is able to say something about the population from which the sample came.
• While descriptive statistics focus on describing a data set, • Inferential statistics aims to draw conclusions or INFER about a larger group (called a population), • based on what is happening with a smaller group (called a sample). • Inferential statistics studies a statistical sample, and from this analysis is able to say something about the population from which the sample came.
• While descriptive statistics focus on describing a data set, • Inferential statistics aims to draw conclusions or INFER about a larger group (called a population), • based on what is happening with a smaller group (called a sample). • INFERential statistics studies a statistical sample, and from this analysis is able to say something about the population from which the sample came.
Same example, but here come a series of inferential questions from the parent.
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 How does your class compare with other 5th grade classes: In the school?
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 About the same
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 What about other 5th grade classes: In the district?
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 A little better
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 What about other 5th grade classes: In the State
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 We are higher
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 What about other 5th grade classes: In the Country
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 We are much higher
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Looks like your class Maybe does not Bobby represent doesn’t the national have to population study as and is much? probably doing better.
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31 Maybe.
Mrs. Graham’s 5th Grade Class Scores on Spelling Test Bella 43 Betty 45 Bobby 32 Bonnie 45 Booker 38 Boston 45 Botania 50 Boyle 45 Bunder 31
In summary - A descriptive study examines the data from everyone in a group or population. A descriptive study cannot generalize to other like groups or populations. An inferential study examines the data from a sample and then generalizes the conclusions about that group to a larger population.
A descriptive study examines the data from everyone in a group or population. A descriptive study cannot generalize to other like groups or populations. An inferential study examines the data from a sample and then generalizes the conclusions about that group to a larger population.
A descriptive study examines the data from everyone in a group or population. A descriptive study cannot generalize to other like groups or populations. An inferential study examines the data from a sample and then generalizes the conclusions about that group to a larger population.
A descriptive study examines the data from everyone in a group or population. A descriptive study cannot generalize to other like groups or populations. An inferential study examines the data from a sample and then generalizes the conclusions about that group to a larger population.
A descriptive study examines the data from everyone in a group or population. A descriptive study cannot generalize to other like groups or populations. An inferential study examines the data from a sample and then generalizes the conclusions about that group to a larger population. Note – inferential and descriptive studies use the SAME statistics (e.g., mean, range, mode, etc.), but as you can see – for DIFFERENT reasons!