Choosing the right descriptive statistics is an essential step in presenting biomedical data clearly and accurately. The appropriate summary depends on the type and distribution of the data, as well as the research question. Continuous variables may be described using the mean and standard deviation when data are approximately normally distributed, while the median and interquartile range may be more appropriate for skewed data. Categorical variables are commonly presented as frequencies and percentages. Understanding these basic principles helps researchers summarize their data appropriately, avoid misleading interpretations, and communicate their findings clearly in tables, figures, and scientific manuscripts.
