Definition:Descriptive Statistics

Definition

Descriptive statistics is the phase of statistics whose task is to collect, analyze and summarize data about statistical samples, without drawing conclusions or inferences about the populations from which those samples are taken.

Also known as

Descriptive statistics is also known as deductive statistics.

Also see

• Definition:Inductive Statistics, in which those conclusions and inferences are made.

• Results about descriptive statistics can be found here.

Sources

• 1963: Alexander M. Mood and Franklin A. Graybill: Introduction to the Theory of Statistics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Introduction: $1.1$. Statistics
• 1972: Murray R. Spiegel and R.W. Boxer: Theory and Problems of Statistics (SI ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Variables and Graphs: Population and Sample. Descriptive and Inductive Statistics
• 1974: H.T. Hayslett, MS: Statistics Made Simple (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: What is Statistics? Two Kinds of Statistics

• For a video presentation of the contents of this page, visit the Khan Academy.