Inferential statistics consist of techniques that do what?

Inferential statistics consist of techniques that do what?

• A. Summarize data.
• B. Use sample data to make general statements about a population.
• C. Test hypotheses about population parameters.
• D. Build models for predicting individual scores.

Answer: (B)

Inferential statistics focus on using data from a sample to make claims about a larger group. This means estimating what the population is like and testing whether patterns seen in the sample are likely to hold in the population at large. Describing data in the sample (descriptive statistics) only summarizes what’s observed and does not generalize beyond the sample. While hypothesis testing is a tool within inferential statistics, the broad purpose is captured by generalizing from the sample to the population. Predicting individual scores is more about prediction than drawing conclusions about population properties.

Inferential statistics focus on using data from a sample to make claims about a larger group. This means estimating what the population is like and testing whether patterns seen in the sample are likely to hold in the population at large. Describing data in the sample (descriptive statistics) only summarizes what’s observed and does not generalize beyond the sample. While hypothesis testing is a tool within inferential statistics, the broad purpose is captured by generalizing from the sample to the population. Predicting individual scores is more about prediction than drawing conclusions about population properties.