What type of statistics is used to test hypotheses or make predictions?

Inferential statistics is utilized to test hypotheses or make predictions about a population based on a sample of data drawn from that population. This branch of statistics goes beyond merely describing data (as descriptive statistics does) and allows researchers to make inferences or generalizations.

Inferential statistics employs various methods such as confidence intervals and hypothesis tests to determine the likelihood that a specific hypothesis about a population is true. For example, a researcher can use inferential statistics to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of a new drug by analyzing the results from a sample of patients.

While descriptive statistics provides a summary or description of the sample data, and exploratory statistics focuses on discovering patterns or relationships in the data, only inferential statistics allows for the broader applications of predicting outcomes and testing theoretical propositions. Comparative statistics, meanwhile, specifically deals with comparing different groups or conditions, which may not encompass all types of hypothesis testing or predictions.