How to use the Descriptive Statistics (Data Analysis)
Descriptive statistics summarize and describe the features of a specific dataset. They provide simple summaries about the sample and the measures.
Measures of Central Tendency
Mean (Average), Median (Middle Value), and Mode (Most Frequent) describe the center point of a dataset.
Measures of Dispersion
Standard Deviation and Range describe how spread out the data is. A high standard deviation means data points are spread over a wider range of values.
The Formula
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use the Median instead of the Mean?
You should use the **Median** whenever your dataset has significant **outliers** or skewness—such as real estate prices or household incomes. In these cases, a few extremely high values (a billionaire moving to a town) can artificially inflate the mean, whereas the median accurately reflects the "typical" experience.
What is the difference between Variance and Standard Deviation?
Standard deviation is the square root of **variance**. While variance measures the mathematical dispersion of data, it is expressed in "squared" units. **Standard Deviation** returns this value to the original units, making it easier to interpret.