Question

Identify each of the following as either descriptive or inferential statistics. The average salary of a random sample of 160 college professors in 2017 was $61,100.

Choose the correct answer below.
A. It is descriptive statistics because it uses a sample to make a claim about a populatio
B. It is inferential statistics because it uses a sample to make a claim about a population
C. It is inferential statistics because it summarizes the information in a sample.
D. It is descriptive statistics because it summarizes the information in a sample.

Answer 1

The average salary of a sample of college professors is an example of descriptive statistics, as it summarizes data without making inferences about the larger population.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement, "The average salary of a random sample of 160 college professors in 2017 was $61,100," is an example of descriptive statistics because it summarizes information contained within a sample. Descriptive statistics, as the term implies, are used to describe and summarize the characteristics of a data set without making inferences about a larger population. Therefore, the correct answer is D. It is descriptive statistics because it summarizes the information in a sample. Unlike inferential statistics, which would make projections or hypotheses about the broader population based on sample data, no such inference is being drawn here. Descriptive statistics serve merely to provide a snapshot of the data collected from the sample without drawing broader conclusions.