Developing descriptive statistics in research work by the researcher is subject to various ethical issues. Such ethical issues affect the validity and reliability of the statistical results. When developing the descriptive statistics, some of the methods of calculating the measures of central tendency and dispersion such as those for determining the standard deviation are very complicated. This is to mean that poor application of such methods leads to wrong measures. Such an act by a researcher amounts to ethical misconduct since he or she uses wrong methods to calculate the measures. In fact, the application of the wrong methods in developing descriptive statistics leads to inaccurate results that are misleading (Holcomb, 1998).
Besides, it is worth noting that in developing the descriptive statistics, interpretation of the measures of central tendency and dispersion is very vital. Wrong interpretation of the leader leads to wrong conclusions by the researcher. In such cases, the interpretations can be said to be misleading. In most cases, the interpretation of the statistics become difficult if the measures of central tendency and dispersion are wrongly computed. This is to mean that the researcher extends the mistakes of the statistical computation to their interpretation.
It is important for anyone developing descriptive statistics to ensure that he or she applies the right methods all the times. The use of correct methods for the determination of the measures leads to accurate results that are reliable. It is also vital in promoting a proper interpretation of the data. Research needs to ensure that the computed measures of dispersion and central tendency in developing the descriptive research are accurate and reliable. In so doing, this will also help to enhance the degree of interpreting the measures correctly. Consequently, this will also lead to the reliability of the descriptive statistics developed by a researcher (Miller, 1995).
References
Holcomb, Z. C. (1998). Fundamentals of descriptive statistics. Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak Pub.
Miller, H. (1995). Descriptive statistics. London: Open Learning Foundation.
