Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Statistics are all-around and used in everyday life. Statistics are used to describe how effective a medication is for a certain disorder to what the most popular color is in the United States. According to Aron, Aron, and Coups, 2009, “statistics is a method of pursuing truth. As a minimum, statistics can tell you the likelihood that your hunch is true in this time and place and with these sorts of people” (p. 2). Psychologist use two branches of statistics to summarize his or her results and those are descriptive and inferential statistics. This paper will discuss the function of statistics, what descriptive and inferential statistics are, and the relationship between descriptive and inferential statistics.
Statistics are used in almost every branch of study and is found behind the scenes in many of our normal daily activities. From economic to scientific studies, statistics are utilized in one way or another. Statistics are an essential part of understanding information and expanding knowledge base and is encompasses almost all aspects of enquiry ("7 Most Essential Functions Of Statistics", 2012). Statistics have many functions that we utilize;statisticsprovides for a better understanding of phenomenon of nature and helps in proper and statistical planning in all forms of study. Using statistics helps in collecting useful quantitative data and also aids in presenting difficult or confusing data in an understandable way. Statistics facilitate comparison amount different arrays of data and allows the information to be comprehended and used to facilitate a conclusion or solution. The use of statistics is also an important part of developing plausible hypothesis and allows for more valid inferences and more accurate forecasting of future issues or events. In other words, statistics are a part of everyday life in civilization. The fact that statistics is in use so abundantly, a basic understanding of statistics is essential to determine fact and fallacy (Malone, 2005). Statistics are an important part when conducting research. There are two branches of statistical methods that can be used: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The method used in research depends on what one wants to achieve with one’s research.
Descriptive statistics
Aron, Aron, and Coups, 2009 definesdescriptive statistics as a procedure “for summarizing a group of scores or otherwise making them more comprehensible” (p.3).In other words, when using descriptive statistics, a researcher attempts to find out information about a specific group of scores, values, individuals, etc. For example, a psychologist may want to find out how many of his/her patients suffering from depression benefit from group therapy. The therapist develops the hypothesis that group therapy is in fact beneficial. At the end of the research period, the researcher will either find out that his or her hypothesis was correct, or incorrect. When using descriptive statistics as a research method, the information is generally obtained via primary data. Primary data is obtained directly by the researcher via surveys, interviews, group sessions, etc. The advantage of using primary data is that the researcher can tailor his/her questions directly to his or her specific needs and to obtain information that is as accurate as possible (University of Georgia, 2003). The following concepts are used when it comes to obtaining and interpreting data:
(1) Variables: specific characteristics that can have different values.
(2) Values: the possible number/category assigned to a score.
(3) Score: the value an individual places on a variable.
(4) Central tendency: the most represented value/score.
(5) Mean: an arithmetic average of scores.
(6) Mode: the greatest frequency in a distribution.
(7) Median: the middle score when all scores are arranged from lowest score to highest.
The author Steinberg states that the results obtained in one’s research can describe the findings “in a visual nutshell through visuals such as tables, charts, and graphs” (2004, p. 125) Descriptive statistics can be organized via frequency tables, pie or bar charts, or histograms. The visual representation of data allows painting a clearer picture about the research results and allows for easy interpretation.
Inferential statistics
According to Aron, Aron, & Coups, 2009 inferential statistics are “procedures for drawing conclusions based on the scores collected in a research study but going beyond them” (p.2). By using inferential statistics, a researcher can draw conclusions on a much larger scale. For example, a study conducted via descriptive statistics shows that 95% of individuals suffering from a mental illness experienced a relief of symptoms by using a certain psychotropic medication. Since most individuals that took part in the study benefited from the drug, the researcher can draw the conclusion that most individuals suffering from the same illness will benefit from taking the medication.
Inferential statistics not only use primary data, but also secondary data. When using secondary data, one interprets and/or uses research that someone else has already conducted. The data is generally obtained via journals, textbooks, scholarly books, etc (University of Georgia, 2003). In this case, the researcher generally does not have to determine the variables, values, scores, etc. him/herself, because it has most likely been determined by the scientist that originally conducted the study.
Inferential and descriptive statistics are important research tools for scientists. The use of either method depends on whether the scientist wants to conduct a research on a smaller scale and by formulating his or her own questions, or whether he or she wants to draw conclusions based on a large scale and on research possibly conducted by others.
The two branches of statistical methods, descriptive, and inferential statistics. “Formally statistics is a branch of mathematics that focuses on the organization, analysis, and interpretation of a group of numbers” (Aron, Aron, & Coups, 2009, p. 2). A descriptive statistic describes a relationship category pertaining to a subject matter of concern. An example of descriptive statistics pertaining to tornados throughout the United States would list the United States, and provide specific information on research such as dates, and states that had the most or least tornadoes occurrences. Inferential statistics basically coincide with the descriptive statistical data of tornado occurrences from state to state, which allows one to make a prediction or draw a conclusion. Inferential statistics coincide with descriptive data and often developed with the aid of testing prior to the drawing of a conclusion. Psychologist may use any data collected through descriptive statistics and inferential statistics simply to test a hypothesis, therefore both branches of statistical methods complement each other for the benefit of research pertaining to theory.
In conclusion, statistics help take a collection of data and present it in an understandable way. Even though descriptive and inferential statistics are used in producing statistics in two different ways; descriptive statistics ultimately can help in the process of making inferential statistics.

Reference:
Aron, A., Aron, E, & Coups, E. (2009).Statistics for psychology (5thed.). Upper Saddle River,NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Malone, F. (2005). What is statistics?, the University of Melbourne, statistical consulting centre,Retrieved December 21, 2007 from http://www.scc.ms.unimelb.edu.au/whatisstatistics/
Steinberg, D. (2004). Chapter 19: Quantitative Data Analysis: Making Sense of DescriptiveStatistics. In, Social Work Student's Research Handbook (pp. 125-138). Haworth Press, Inc.
University of Georgia Libraries. (2003) Research Guide: Primary vs. Secondary Data. RetrievedJuly 19, 2012, from the websitewww.libs.uga.edu/researchcentral/choosing/what/primary.html
7 most essential functions of statistics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.preservearticles.com/201104115283/essential-functions-of-statistics.html