What do researchers aim to quantify when they use measures of central tendency and variability?

Researchers aim to quantify aspects of the data through the measures of central tendency and variability to provide a clear representation of the data set. Measures of central tendency, such as the mean, median, and mode, summarize the data by identifying the central point around which the data clusters. Variability measures, like standard deviation and range, indicate the extent to which the data points differ from one another, offering insights into the spread or dispersion of the data.

This quantification allows researchers to analyze and describe key characteristics of data in a clear and concise manner, which is the essence of descriptive analyses. By employing these statistical measures, researchers can effectively present findings and understand the general trends and patterns within the data without necessarily drawing conclusions about cause and effect or verifying significance. Other options do not directly relate to the purpose of measures of central tendency and variability in this context.