# Statistics > Basic Statistics > Descriptive Statistics

Descriptive Statistics computes descriptive statistics for a set of input column variables or for groups of data within a set of input column variables. It displays the results in the log window and also optionally stores them in Datasheets.

To use the utility, use the following steps:

- Select Statistics > Basic Statistics > Descriptive Statistics to open the utility.
- In the Input Variable(s) text box, enter the names of the columns. Separate column names by spaces (e.g. c2 c4), and use a dash to indicate a range of columns (e.g. c10-c15).
- In the By Variable drop-down menu, select the variable that will be used to group data values in each column.
- Select the descriptive statistics to be computed by checking their corresponding check boxes.
- Check the Store Results in New Datasheet box if you would like to store the statistics in new Datasheet(s). Statistics for each input variable will be stored in separate Datasheet.
- Click OK to finish. The results are displayed in the log window and stored in new Datasheet(s) if specified.

The following descriptive statistics are available:

- Mean
- SE of mean
- Standard deviation
- Variance
- Coefficient of variation
- First quartile
- Median
- Third quartile
- Interquartile range
- Mode
- Percentile
- Trimmed mean
- Sum
- Minimum
- Maximum
- Range
- Sum of squares
- Skewness
- Kurtosis
- MSSD
- N nonmissing
- N missing
- N total
- Cumulative N
- Percent
- Cumulative percent