Descriptive Statistics: Singular vs. Plural - What's the Difference?

[charliemagne]

Is there any difference between the two?

1. Descriptive statistics which is one of the operations of statistics.

2. Descriptive statistics which are numbers used to describe a certain sample or population.

 

[statdad]

It depends on the intent of your statement. If you are referring to the body of tools that comprise it, you say "Descriptive statistics is one of the ..."

If you are referring to to a collection of numbers and saying why they are important, you say "Descriptive statistics are..." (it may be more descriptive to say "These descriptive statistics are..."

Simply the difference between singular case and plural case.