5. Describing Data in jamovi
Once your data are prepared, the next step is to describe them. Descriptive statistics help us summarize what is in the dataset before making broader claims.
This chapter assumes your variables are already set up correctly. If jamovi is treating a variable as the wrong type, or if you need to recode, transform, reverse-score, or compute a new variable first, return to the previous chapter before interpreting your descriptive statistics.
This chapter focuses on using jamovi to describe different kinds of variables. The most important idea is that the descriptive statistics you choose should match the variable you are describing. A categorical variable usually needs counts and percentages. A continuous variable usually needs measures of center and spread. When you are comparing groups, you may need descriptives split by a grouping variable.
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
- check variable setup before running descriptives
- describe categorical variables using frequencies and percentages
- describe continuous variables using appropriate measures of center, spread, and shape
- describe continuous variables across groups
- choose descriptive statistics based on variable type and research question
- write descriptive statistics clearly in text or tables
- avoid common mistakes when describing data
The chapters are separated to make the skills easier to learn, but real data analysis is messier. You may prepare a variable, describe it, notice a problem, return to cleaning, and then describe it again. That is part of the process.