Differences between descriptive and inferential statistics

Full Answer Section

Here is an example of how descriptive and inferential statistics could be used to analyze data from Yankee Stadium:

• Descriptive statistics could be used to calculate the average attendance at Yankee Stadium for the past 10 years. This would give us a general idea of how many people attend games at Yankee Stadium.
• Inferential statistics could be used to determine if there is a statistically significant difference between the average attendance at Yankee Stadium for home games and away games. This would tell us if there is a difference in the number of people who attend home games and away games.

As a consumer, I would be most interested in descriptive statistics. I would want to know how many people attend Yankee Stadium on average, and how the attendance has changed over time. This information would help me to decide if I want to go to a game at Yankee Stadium.

As a sport management professional, I would be most interested in inferential statistics. I would want to know if there is a difference in the number of people who attend home games and away games. This information would help me to make decisions about ticket pricing, marketing, and promotions.

Sample Solution

• Descriptive statistics are used to summarize data. They describe the data in a way that makes it easy to understand. For example, descriptive statistics can be used to calculate the mean, median, and mode of a set of data. They can also be used to create charts and graphs that visualize the data.
• Inferential statistics are used to make inferences about a population from a sample. They allow us to make predictions about the population based on the data from the sample. For example, inferential statistics can be used to determine if there is a statistically significant difference between the average attendance at Yankee Stadium for home games and away games.