What are the differences between descriptive and inferential statistics?

Descriptive statistics are used to describe characteristics of some phenomenon from either a sample or a population.
Inferential statistics estimate how likely it is that statistical results based on a random sample are representative to the entire population. Descriptive statistics describe some characteristic, attribute, or phenomenon while inferential statistics allows one to make inferences to an entire population. Inferential statistics allow for the calculation of the sampling error.


Descriptive statistics are used to describe characteristics of some phenomenon from either a sample or a population.
Inferential statistics estimate how likely it is that statistical results based on a random sample are representative to the entire population. Descriptive statistics describe some characteristic, attribute, or phenomenon while inferential statistics allows one to make inferences to an entire population. Inferential statistics allow for the calculation of the sampling error.

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Parolees have merely been granted the privilege of living in the community instead of prison.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

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Which group won major court cases securing religious freedom for prisoners in the United States?

A. Black Muslims B. Catholics C. Jews D. Scientologists E. Jehovah Witnesses

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The NCVS respondents reveal the hate incidents they report to the police are confirmed by police investigation in fewer than __ percent of incidents

a. 25 c. 30 b. 5 d. 10

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What do we know about psychopaths and crime? a. Psychopaths comprise 65 percent of U.S. prison inmates

b. Psychopaths tend to continue their criminal careers long after other offenders age out of crime. c. Psychopaths are no more likely to reoffend within a year of release than other offenders. d. Psychopaths who reoffend are more likely to reoffend in nonviolent ways.

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