An inferential statistic is generally defined as:
A) the entire group of interest about which we want to make conclusions.
B) a single number or group of numbers that organize, summarize, and communicate a group of numerical observations.
C) a subset, or smaller collection, of observations from the overall group of interest.
D) using data to make general estimates about the overall group of interest.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics involves using data from a subset (or smaller collection) of observations to make general estimates about the overall group of interest. This is different from descriptive statistics (option B), which involve summarizing and communicating a group of numerical observations with a single number or group of numbers. Option A is simply referring to the population of interest, while option C is a description of a sample.

An Inferential Statistic Is Generally Defined As