DESCRIPTIVE

STATISTICS
IN RESEARCH
Presented by: Syeda Neha Asrar
Introduction to
discriptive
statistics:
DISCRIPTIVE STATISTICS:

Descriptive statistics are statistical tools used to

summarize and describe the main features of a
dataset. Unlike inferential statistics, which aim to
draw conclusions about a population based on a
sample, descriptive statistics simply provide a
snapshot of the data.
 IMPORTANC OF
DISCRIPTIVE
STATISTICS
Descriptive statistics allow for the ease of data visualization. It
allows for data to be presented in a meaningful and
understandable way, which, in turn, allows for a simplified
interpretation of the data set in question. Raw data would be
difficult to analyze, and trend and pattern determination may
be challenging to perform. In addition, raw data makes it
challenging to visualize what the data is showing.
Consider the following example:
There are 100 students enrolled for a particular module. To find
the overall performance of the students taking the respective
module and the distribution of the marks, descriptive statistics
must be used. Getting the marks as raw data would prove the
determination of the overall performance and the distribution
of the marks to be challenging.
Furthermore, descriptive statistics allow for a data set to be
summarized and presented through a combination of tabulated
and graphical descriptions and a discussion of the results
found. Descriptive statistics are used to summarize complex
quantitative data.
Role in Hypothesis Generation:
Hypothesis generation is a critical step in the research process, where
researchers formulate possible explanations or predictions based on the
initial data exploration.
Formulating Hypotheses: Descriptive statistics help researchers identify
patterns and relationships within the data that may not be immediately
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obvious. For instance, noticing a correlation between two variables can lead
to a hypothesis about their relationship.
Example: Observing that higher education levels correlate with higher
income levels might lead to a hypothesis that education impacts earning
potential.
Testing Assumptions: Descriptive statistics can also be used to test the
assumptions underlying potential hypotheses. By understanding the basic
characteristics of the data, researchers can ensure that their hypotheses
are grounded in the actual data characteristics.
ROLE IN DATA EXPLORING:
Data exploration is the first step in any data analysis process. It involves
examining the data to understand its structure, spot anomalies, and get a
sense of the patterns it contains.
Summarizing Data: Descriptive statistics help researchers summarize large
datasets into more manageable forms, using measures such as mean,
median, mode, range, variance, and standard deviation.
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Mean: Provides the average value, giving a central point of the data.
Median: Indicates the middle value, useful in skewed distributions.
Mode: Shows the most frequently occurring value, useful in categorical data.
Range: Highlights the span between the minimum and maximum values.
Variance and Standard Deviation: Measure the dispersion or spread of the
data, indicating how much the values differ from the mean.
Identifying Patterns and Trends: Visual tools like histograms, box plots, and
scatter plots help in visualizing the data distribution, detecting trends, and
identifying outliers.
ROLE IN RESULT COMMUNICATION:
Effective communication of research findings is essential for the dissemination of
knowledge and the advancement of science.
Simplifying Complex Data: Descriptive statistics distill complex datasets into simpler,
easy-to-understand summaries. This is particularly important when presenting findings to
non-specialist audiences.
Example: Instead of presenting raw data from a survey of thousands of respondents,
researchers can present average scores, percentage distributions, and other summary
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statistics.
Visualization: Descriptive statistics are often accompanied by visual aids such as charts,
graphs, and tables, which help in conveying the data's story more effectively.
Example: A bar chart showing the frequency of different responses in a survey can quickly
convey the most common opinions or behaviors.
Supporting Arguments: By providing clear and concise summaries of the data, descriptive
statistics support the arguments and conclusions drawn in the research. They provide the
evidence base that underpins the research findings.
Example: If a researcher claims that a new drug is effective, they can support this claim
with descriptive statistics showing a significant improvement in patient outcomes.
 CONCLUSION:
Descriptive statistics play a fundamental role in the research
process. They enable researchers to explore data, generate
hypotheses, and communicate results effectively. By
providing clear and concise summaries of the data,
descriptive statistics help researchers uncover insights, test
assumptions, and present their findings in an accessible
manner. Whether in public health, education, market
research, or any other field, descriptive statistics are
indispensable tools for transforming raw data into
meaningful information.