Divorce The following graph represents the results of a survey, in which a random sample of adult Americans was asked, “Please tell me whether you personally believe that in general divorce is morally acceptable or morally wrong.” If Gallup claimed that the results of the survey indicate that 8% of adult Americans believe that divorce is acceptable in certain situations, would you say this statement is descriptive or inferential? Why?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics summarize or describe the characteristics of a data set, such as percentages or averages from the sample data. Inferential statistics use sample data to make generalizations or predictions about a larger population.
2. Step 2: Look at the graph provided, which shows the results of a survey of a random sample of adult Americans. The graph displays the percentage of respondents who believe divorce is morally acceptable, morally wrong, or depends on the situation.
3. Step 3: Note that Gallup claims 8% of adult Americans believe divorce is acceptable in certain situations. This percentage is a statement about the entire population of adult Americans, not just the sample.
4. Step 4: Since the 8% figure is a conclusion drawn about the whole population based on the sample data, this is an example of inferential statistics. It involves making an inference from the sample to the population.
5. Step 5: Therefore, the statement is inferential because it uses the sample survey results to estimate or infer the opinion of the entire population of adult Americans regarding divorce.

Key Concepts

Descriptive Statistics

Descriptive statistics summarize or describe the main features of a data set, such as percentages or averages from a sample. In this case, the 8% figure represents a direct summary of the survey responses, describing the sample without making broader claims about the entire population.

Inferential Statistics

Inferential statistics use sample data to make generalizations or predictions about a larger population. When Gallup claims that 8% of all adult Americans believe divorce is acceptable in certain situations, they are making an inference from the sample to the population.

Sample vs. Population

A sample is a subset of a population used to gather data, while the population is the entire group of interest. Understanding the difference is crucial because descriptive statistics describe the sample, whereas inferential statistics draw conclusions about the population based on the sample.