Descriptive statistics are used to describe characteristics of an entire population or group, while inferential statistics are used to make inferences about a population based on analysis of a sample. The document provides examples of when to use descriptive versus inferential statistics, such as using descriptive statistics to find the average driving distance for all employees, or using inferential statistics to understand factors influencing all employees to stay by surveying a sample.

1. Descriptive statistics are used when you want to
know something about everyone in an entire
group.
Central Tendency, Spread, or Symmetry?
Satisfaction of a
sample of 30
customers
All customers
satisfaction
All customers’
satisfaction
Inferential statistics are used when you want
to know something about everyone from a
smaller group.

2. Let’s Practice!

3. Find the average driving distance for all
employees from home to work.
Inferential Descriptive

4. Find the average driving distance for all
employees from home to work.
Inferential Descriptive

5. Find the average driving distance for all
employees from home to work.
Inferential Descriptive

6. Find the average driving distance for all
employees from home to work.
Inferential Descriptive
Descriptive statistics are used when you want to
know something about everyone in an entire
group.
All customers’
satisfaction

7. Next Example

8. What factors influence employees to stay at
your company? You take a sample of 40
employees and generalize the results to all
employees who stay.
Inferential Descriptive

9. What factors influence employees to stay at
your company? You take a sample of 40
employees and generalize the results to all
employees who stay.
Inferential Descriptive

10. What factors influence employees to stay at
your company? You take a sample of 40
employees and generalize the results to all
employees who stay.
Inferential Descriptive

11. What factors influence employees to stay at
your company? You take a sample of 40
employees and generalize the results to all
employees who stay.
Inferential Descriptive
Satisfaction of a
sample of 30
customers
All customers
satisfaction
Inferential statistics are used when you want to know
something about everyone from a smaller group.

12. Final Example

13. How do the customer satisfaction levels
compare between English and Spanish speaking
customers? You compare samples from each
group and infer the results to both populations.
Inferential Descriptive

14. How do the customer satisfaction levels
compare between English and Spanish speaking
customers? You compare samples from each
group and infer the results to both populations.
Inferential Descriptive

15. How do the customer satisfaction levels
compare between English and Spanish speaking
customers? You compare samples from each
group and infer the results to both populations.
Inferential Descriptive

16. How do the customer satisfaction levels
compare between English and Spanish speaking
customers? You compare samples from each
group and infer the results to both populations.
Inferential Descriptive
Satisfaction of a
sample of 30
customers
All customers
satisfaction
Inferential statistics are used when you want to know
something about everyone from a smaller group.