Question

In Exercises 1.7-1.12, classify each of the studies as either descriptive or inferential. Explain your answers.

Drug Use. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration collects and publishes data on nonmedical drug use, by type of drug and age group, in National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The following table provides data for the years 2003 and 2008. The percentages shown are estimates for the entire nation based on information obtained from a sample (NA, not available).

Short answer

The given study is inferential.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given information.

The given statement is:

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration collects and publishes data on nonmedical drug use, by type of drug and age group, in National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The following table provides data for the years 2003 and 2008.

Step 2. Classify the given study as either descriptive or inferential.

The given table provides data about the estimates of percentages of non-medical drug use based on different types of drugs and age groups for the US for the years 2003 and 2008.

The percentages are based on sample data.

Therefore, the given study involves inferential statistics.