Descriptive statistics are used to describe a sample, whereas inferential statistics are used to

• A. Generalize findings from the sample to the population
• B. Describe relationships among variables
• C. Collect new data
• D. Measure dispersion

Answer: (A)

Inferential statistics are used to generalize findings from a sample to the larger population. After describing the sample, inferential methods apply probability theory to estimate population parameters, test hypotheses, and express the uncertainty of those estimates with confidence intervals. This is what lets you claim something about the whole population, not just the observed group. Descriptive statistics, by contrast, simply summarize the sample data (such as the average or measures of spread) and do not extend conclusions beyond what was collected. The other options point to describing relationships, collecting new data, or measuring dispersion, which are not about making generalizations to a population.