Which of the following best describes descriptive statistics?

Descriptive statistics encompass a wide array of statistical techniques that focus on summarizing and organizing data in a way that makes it understandable and interpretable. This might include measures such as the mean, median, mode, and standard deviation, as well as graphical representations like charts and graphs. The purpose of descriptive statistics is to provide a clear overview of the data set without making predictions or inferences about a larger population.

By contrast, the other options discuss concepts that are either focused on specific aspects of data analysis or relate to inferential statistics. Techniques that analyze individual cases rather than providing a summary of a dataset as a whole do not capture the essence of descriptive statistics. Similarly, measures of variability and dispersion, while relevant, represent only a subset of the broader category of descriptive statistics. Making inferences about a population falls under inferential statistics, which use samples to draw conclusions about a larger group. Therefore, the characterization of descriptive statistics as methods for summarizing and organizing data is the most accurate reflection of its purpose and application.