Statistics is a fundamental field of study that enables the analysis of data to derive meaningful insights. It involves collecting, organizing and interpreting data to gain a deeper understanding of a given dataset. In addition to being used to analyze and interpret patterns in data, statistics is also used to make predictions about future events and draw conclusions about an existing data set.

Descriptive statistics are used to summarize the data, such as mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation. These descriptive statistics give an overview of the given data set in terms of its variability. Inferential statistics are used to draw conclusions from data and make predictions. Fundamentally, it involves assessing the probability of specific outcomes based on the given data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics have their uses, and depending on the sophistication of the analysis, a combination of both may also be used.

Data compilation involves techniques to collect, organize and compile data. An important factor when gathering data is to ensure that the resulting dataset is a representative sample of the population being analysed. Common sampling techniques used to compile data include simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, and cluster sampling.

Statistics are present in almost every department of every company and are an integral part of investing as well. For example, stock traders and investors use a range of statistical techniques to assess the risks and inform their investment decisions. Statistics can also be used to predict the likelihood of future events such as which stocks are more likely to outperform the markets, market trends and cycles, and long-term performance of companies.

In conclusion, statistics is an important and complex field of study that enables discovery of meaningful insights from data. It is used to summarize and present data, assess the probability of occurrences, and inform decisions in a range of industries. Furthermore, statistics can be communicated at different levels, from non-numerical descriptors up to numerical references in relation to a zero-point.