Descriptive Statistics

A primary goal in this discussion is to recognize that applications in statistics (and, in particular, applications in descriptive statistics) can be found across disciplines, industries, and professions. We will be making connections with our classmates while sharing our own experiences and expectations regarding how statistics is meaningful in each of our everyday lives. Additionally, we will begin to explore some of the key concepts in this module by finding and examining real world, professional examples of descriptive statistics.

Discussion Topic

Begin this discussion by reviewing the "Key Concepts" to be considered when addressing the discussion prompts in the first tab below. Each of these concepts are elaborated upon in the text readings for this module. After reviewing the tabs for instructions for your "Original Post" and "Replies" for this discussion, select the "Examples" tab for examples of participation in this discussion.

In your original post, describe the purpose of descriptive statistics.

• How can descriptive statistics be used in research situations based on your field of study?
• Provide a specific example of a descriptive statistic from your field of study in your discussion. This may be a chart, graph, or calculation (like mean, median, mode, or standard deviation). You may create your own statistics, find one on a website, or share an on-the-job example. Be sure to appropriately document the source of your descriptive statistic(s) using APA formatting.
• We know that descriptive statistics provide summary information on data collected from a sample or population. Does the source from which you found this statistic indicate who/what the sample is and how it was selected from the population? If not, use your knowledge or experience in this field to speculate on a reasonable sample or population from which you think the data might have been obtained and the sampling method that might have been used to obtain the data.
• Example Original Post
  • How can descriptive statistics be used in research situations based on your field of study?
  I am working toward my BSN at ECPI so that I can become a nurse. In my studies we have seen that nurses use descriptive statistics on a daily basis. For example, to monitor a patient's blood pressure, the nurse might need to interpret a chart. Statistics can be used to support research in nursing in many ways. One way might be to gather and analyze data regarding the most common illnesses and medical needs in a community so that hospitals can plan and budget accordingly to best serve its patients and community.
  • Provide a specific example of a descriptive statistic from your field of study in your discussion.
  Here is a specific example of a descriptive statistic that might be used in my field (Blood glucose level up to five hours after a meal).
  • Does the source from which you found this statistic indicate who/what the sample is and how it was selected from the population? If not, use your knowledge or experience in this field to speculate on a reasonable sample or population from which you think the data might have been obtained and the sampling method that might have been used to obtain the data.
  The website did not state the specific sample or population used to obtain this data. I would guess it's actually two samples of patients, one group with diabetes and another group without ("normal") on which blood glucose levels were monitored for a five-hour period. One reasonable guess is that the samples were convenience samples based on patients available at the hospital collecting this data. ReferencesBlood glucose level up to 5 hours after a meal. (n.d.). https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/~trh/local_html/diabet...