Descriptive Statistics Tools

On this webpage, we describe two data analysis tools that generate several key descriptive statistics for a data set.

Excel Support

Excel Data Analysis Tool: Excel provides a data analysis tool called Descriptive Statistics which produces a summary of the key statistics for a data set.

Example 1: Produce a table of the most common descriptive statistics for the scores in column A of Figure 1.

Figure 1 – Output from Descriptive Statistics data analysis tool

The output from the data analysis tool is shown on the right side of Figure 1. To use the tool, select Data > Analysis|Data Analysis and choose the Descriptive Statistics option. A dialog box appears as in Figure 2.

Figure 2 – Dialog box for Excel’s data analysis tool

Now click on Input Range and highlight the scores in column A (i.e. range A3:A14). If you include the heading, as is done here, check Labels in first row. Since we want the output to start in cell C3, click the Output Range radio button and insert C3 (or click on cell C3). Finally, click on the Summary statistics checkbox and press the OK button.

Note that had we checked the Kth Largest checkbox, the output would also contain the value for LARGE(A4:A14, k) where k is the number we insert in the box to the right of the label Kth Largest. Similarly, checking the Kth Smallest checkbox outputs SMALL(A4:A14, k). The option Confidence Interval for Mean option generates a confidence interval using the t distribution as explained in One Sample t Test.

Multiple Sample Example

Excel’s Descriptive Statistics data analysis tool also allows you to report on multiple sets of data at the same time, as shown in the following example.

Example 2 – Use Excel’s Descriptive Statistics data analysis tool to show the descriptive statistics for the two samples on the left side of Figure 3.

The output from Excel’s Descriptive Statistics data analysis tool is shown on the right side of Figure 3.

Figure 3 – Excel’s Descriptive Statistics data analysis

Real Statistics Support

Real Statistics Data Analysis Tool: The Real Statistics Resource Pack provides the Descriptive Statistics and Normality data analysis tool which outputs the above statistics plus GEOMEAN, HARMEAN, MAD, AAD, and IQR. But instead of just generating the numerical value of each statistic, as Excel’s Descriptive Statistics data analysis tool does, the Real Statistics data analysis tool outputs the appropriate Excel formula for computing each statistic (see Figure 4 below). Thus whenever the input data values change, the output values will change automatically as well.

The Real Statistics Descriptive Statistics and Normality data analysis tool allows you to report on multiple sets of data at the same time, as shown in the following example.

Real Statistics Example

Example 3 – Use Real Statistics’ Descriptive Statistics and Normality data analysis tool to show the descriptive statistics for the two samples on the left side of Figure 3.

Press Ctrl-m and select the Descriptive Statistics and Normality option. A dialog box will now appear as shown in Figure 4. Insert A5:B18 into the Input Range, making sure the Column headings included with data option is checked, and select the Descriptive Statistics option.

Figure 4 – Real Statistics dialog box

After clicking the OK button, the output shown in Figure 5 is displayed.

Figure 5 – Descriptive Statistics data analysis

As stated above, the data analysis tool generates formulas in each cell instead of the numerical values. E.g. cell J6 contains the formula =AVERAGE(A6:A18) instead of the value 30.46154.

Also note that cell J23 contains the formula =IQR(A6:A18), i.e. IQR based on the inclusive version of the quartile function. If you check the Use exclusive version of quartile field in the dialog box shown in Figure 4, then cell J23 would contain the formula =IQR(A6:A18, TRUE), i.e. IQR based on the exclusive QUARTILE.EXC function, producing the values 30 and 33.5 in cells J23 and K23 of Figure 5.

Examples Workbook

Click here to download the Excel workbook with the examples described on this webpage.

Reference

ExcelTip (2021) How to perform descriptive analysis in Excel
https://www.exceltip.com/tips/descriptive-statistics.html