Which type of statistics would you select to summarize characteristics of a sample?

Descriptive statistics are specifically designed to summarize and describe the main features of a dataset. This type of statistics provides simple summaries about the sample and its measures, which can include means, medians, modes, standard deviations, and ranges. It's focused on delivering quick insights into the characteristics of a sample, aiding in the understanding of the data without making predictions or generalizations about a larger population.

In contrast, inferential statistics are used to make predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample of data. Multivariate statistics involve the analysis of data that contains more than one variable, allowing for the assessment of relationships between them. Parametric statistics are a subset of inferential statistics that assume underlying statistical distributions in the data. These options focus on different aspects of data analysis rather than summarizing characteristics directly, which is why descriptive statistics is the most appropriate choice for this context.