What is the primary function of descriptive statistics?

The primary function of descriptive statistics is to summarize and describe the main features of a data set. This involves presenting key characteristics such as measures of central tendency (like the mean, median, and mode) and measures of variability (such as range and standard deviation). Descriptive statistics provide a way to give a clear and concise view of the data, enabling researchers to identify patterns, trends, and important variables within the dataset without making any inferences or predictions about a larger population.

In contrast, conducting hypothesis testing involves inferential statistics, which go beyond mere description to assess and make conclusions about population parameters based on sample data. Predicting future outcomes, similarly, relies on inferential techniques and models rather than just summarizing data. Assessing relationships between variables often uses correlation or regression analysis, which also falls under inferential statistics and requires a different focus beyond descriptive assessment. Hence, summarizing and describing key features is the essential role of descriptive statistics.