Question

Indicate whether the following statements use descriptive or inferential statistics:

1. The average score on Quiz 1 in your Biostatistics class.

2. Based on a study done by the CDC, it is estimated that adolescents drink more than 18 ounces of full-calorie soda per day.

3. On the basis of a survey done by the American Lung Association, it is found that 30% of the adult population of Northridge, Sacramento, and Glendale smoke cigarettes. You and your research team at the CDC generalize these results and distribute them on a flyer that states that 30% of the population of California smokes cigarettes.

Answer 1

Descriptive statisitcs are measures which sumarize the sample or the population like mean, standard deviation. The inferential statistics are the estimations or predictions that you make about the population from the descriptive statistics of the sample.

1. The average score on Quiz 1 in your Biostatistics class.

Descriptive : Since it is not a prediction and is simply calculated.

2. Based on a study done by the CDC, it is estimated that adolescents drink more than 18 ounces of full-calorie soda per day.

Inferential: There is an estimate about the amount of drink from a previously done study.

3. On the basis of a survey done by the American Lung Association, it is found that 30% of the adult population of Northridge, Sacramento, and Glendale smoke cigarettes. You and your research team at the CDC generalize these results and distribute them on a flyer that states that 30% of the population of California smokes cigarettes.

Inferential: The study takes place only in few parts of California but the results are generalized for entire California like an estimation.