---
title: "Univariate descriptive statistics"
method_id: SM.DSC.SUM.UNIV.DESC
family: Descriptive
version: 1.1.0
date_modified: 2026-06-18
canonical: https://clarus.ofrencber.com/library/descriptive_statistics.md
source: Clarus method library
---

# Univariate descriptive statistics

> A classical statistical method in the Clarus library (Descriptive family).
> Clarus selects, assumption-checks and runs this method on your data with a
> deterministic rule engine and real numerical libraries (scipy / statsmodels);
> it never generates numbers, citations or results.

**Also known as:** summary statistics; descriptive summary; central tendency and dispersion; betimsel istatistik.

## When to use it

Use this method when your goal is to:
- summarize one variable
- describe distribution
- report central tendency and spread

## Data it expects

- **dependent:** 1 continuous (interval/ratio)
- **independent:** none
- **pairing:** not_applicable

## Assumptions

_not applicable._ Descriptive statistics make no distributional or inferential assumptions. They describe the data as observed; no gate (normality, homogeneity, etc.) is required to compute them. Shape statistics (skewness, kurtosis) are themselves descriptors, not tested assumptions.

## Honest limitations

- These are sample descriptors, not population estimates; do not generalize a point summary without an interval estimate (see mean CI method).
- The mean and standard deviation are sensitive to outliers and skew; when the distribution is skewed, report and read the median and IQR instead.
- Skewness and kurtosis are unstable in small samples and should be interpreted cautiously below ~30 observations.
- A single variable's distribution carries no causal or relational meaning.

## Primary sources

- Tukey, J. W. (1977). Exploratory Data Analysis. Addison-Wesley.
- Joanes, D. N., & Gill, C. A. (1998). Comparing measures of sample skewness and kurtosis. The Statistician, 47(1), 183-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9884.00122
- Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics (4th ed.). Sage.

## How to cite this

To cite this Clarus method page (the page itself — for the method's own primary sources, see above):

**Plain text**

Clarus, "Univariate descriptive statistics", version 1.1.0, Clarus method library, 2026. https://clarus.ofrencber.com/library/descriptive_statistics.md

**APA**

Clarus. (2026). Univariate descriptive statistics (Version 1.1.0) [Statistical method, Clarus method library]. Retrieved from https://clarus.ofrencber.com/library/descriptive_statistics.md

**BibTeX**

```bibtex
@misc{clarus-descriptive-statistics,
  author       = {Clarus},
  title        = {Univariate descriptive statistics},
  howpublished = {Clarus method library},
  version      = {1.1.0},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://clarus.ofrencber.com/library/descriptive_statistics.md}
}
```

_No DOI is minted for Clarus method pages yet; this citation uses the canonical URL, version and date. Cite the primary sources above for the method's scientific provenance._

---

METHOD SM.DSC.SUM.UNIV.DESC · VERSION 1.1.0 · UPDATED 2026-06-18 · SOURCE Clarus method library