HLT-362V Summary and Descriptive Statistics: Complete Guide + Example

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HLT-362V Summary and Descriptive Statistics

The HLT-362V Summary and Descriptive Statistics benchmark requires you to open the “National Cancer Institute Data” Excel spreadsheet, calculate six descriptive statistics for each race/ethnicity group — mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation, and range — and then write a 150–250 word analysis interpreting the differences and their health outcomes. You complete the math directly in Excel using formulas (not a calculator), and APA formatting is not required, but solid academic writing is. This guide walks you through every formula, shows a fully worked example, and gives you a ready-to-adapt analysis paragraph so you can finish the assignment correctly the first time.

What Is the HLT-362V Summary and Descriptive Statistics Assignment?

The Summary and Descriptive Statistics assignment is a Grand Canyon University benchmark in HLT-362V Applied Statistics for Health Care that asks you to summarize a public-health dataset using descriptive statistics in Excel. You are given the National Cancer Institute data on lung and bronchus cancer rates per 100,000, broken out by race/ethnicity group, and you must describe each group numerically.

The deliverable has two parts. First, the calculated statistics for every group, computed with Excel formulas. Second, a short written analysis (150–250 words) that interprets what those numbers mean for health outcomes.

This is a benchmark assignment, which means it is weighted more heavily and tied to a program competency. Getting the formulas right matters, but so does the interpretation — the rubric rewards students who connect the math to real differences between populations.

What Statistics Do You Need to Calculate?

You need to calculate two families of statistics: measures of central tendency and measures of variation. Together they describe both the “typical” value in each group and how spread out the values are.

Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median, and Mode

Measures of central tendency describe the center of a dataset using three values:

• Mean — the arithmetic average; add all values and divide by the count.
• Median — the middle value when the data is sorted; resistant to outliers.
• Mode — the value that appears most frequently.

In a roughly symmetric dataset, the mean, median, and mode sit close together. When they diverge sharply, the distribution is skewed, which is itself worth noting in your analysis.

Measures of Variation: Variance, Standard Deviation, and Range

Measures of variation describe how spread out the values are around the center:

• Variance — the average of the squared distances from the mean.
• Standard deviation — the square root of the variance, expressed in the original units; the most interpretable spread measure.
• Range — the difference between the maximum and minimum value (a formula is not required, but =MAX()-MIN() is cleanest).

A small standard deviation relative to the mean tells you the values cluster tightly, which makes the mean a trustworthy summary. A large spread warns you that the average hides meaningful variation.

How to Complete the Summary and Descriptive Statistics Assignment in Excel

You complete this assignment by entering one Excel formula per statistic, per group, then writing your analysis below the table. Use formulas rather than hand calculations so your work is verifiable and recalculates if the data changes.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the provided spreadsheet and confirm each race/ethnicity group sits in its own column with all its rate values listed beneath it.
2. Build a statistics block below the data with one labeled row each for mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation, and range.
3. Enter the formula for each statistic in the cell under each group (see the table below).
4. Copy each formula across all group columns so every group is calculated identically.
5. Check for errors — no #NAME?, #DIV/0!, or #VALUE! should appear.
6. Write the 150–250 word analysis in a cell or text box beneath the table.

Use these exact Excel formulas for statistics (assuming your data for one group sits in cells B6:B15):

Note on sample vs. population: VAR and STDEV calculate the sample statistics, which is the convention HLT-362V expects when your data represents a sample. If your instructor specifies the entire population, use VARP and STDEVP instead.

Worked Example: National Cancer Institute Lung & Bronchus Data

A complete worked example makes the expectations concrete. Below are the descriptive statistics for a dataset modeled on the SEER / National Cancer Institute format — lung and bronchus cancer incidence rates per 100,000, by race/ethnicity. (Use your own assigned spreadsheet’s exact values; these illustrate the method and the expected output.)

Notice three things. The Black population has the highest mean and median, indicating the greatest cancer burden. The Hispanic population has the lowest central tendency. And every group’s standard deviation is small relative to its mean, so the averages are reliable summaries rather than artifacts of outliers.

HLT-362V-Summary-Descriptive-Statistics-Sample  (Click to Download)

How to Write the 150–250 Word Analysis

Your analysis should open with a single declarative sentence that states the headline finding, then explain the differences between groups and their health implications. Reference both the central tendency and the variation, and end with what the pattern means for care.

Here is a model analysis you can adapt to your own numbers:

The descriptive statistics reveal substantial disparities in lung and bronchus cancer incidence across racial and ethnic groups. The Black population shows the highest burden, with the largest mean and median, indicating consistently elevated incidence relative to every other group, while the Hispanic population shows the lowest central tendency. The measures of variation add a second layer: each group’s standard deviation is small relative to its mean and the ranges are narrow, meaning the values cluster tightly and the group means are reliable summaries rather than artifacts of a few outliers.

Because the mean, median, and mode sit close together within each group, the distributions are approximately symmetric. Clinically, these patterns matter: the markedly higher, stable incidence in the Black population signals a population-level priority for targeted screening, smoking-cessation outreach, and earlier diagnostic access. The lower rates among Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander groups should be interpreted cautiously, since differences in screening uptake and reporting can mask true incidence. Descriptive statistics translate raw surveillance data into an actionable health-equity picture.

How Is This Benchmark Graded?

The Summary and Descriptive Statistics benchmark is graded on a four-criterion rubric weighted heavily toward calculation accuracy and interpretation. Knowing the weighting tells you where to spend your time.

The typical rubric breakdown is:

• Measures of Central Tendency (≈25%) — mean, median, and mode correct for every group.
• Measures of Variation (≈25%) — variance, standard deviation, and range correct for every group.
• Analysis of Descriptive Statistics (≈25%) — a clear 150–250 word interpretation of group differences and outcomes.
• Excel Formulas (≈20%) — statistics computed with formulas, not typed-in numbers.
• Mechanics of Writing (≈5%) — spelling, grammar, and academic tone.

The single most common point loss is hardcoding values — typing 63.67 instead of =AVERAGE(...). Always leave live formulas in the cells.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most lost points on this assignment come from a handful of avoidable errors. Watch for these:

• Typing answers instead of formulas, which forfeits the Excel Formulas criterion.
• Mixing up sample and population functions (VAR/STDEV vs. VARP/STDEVP).
• Writing an analysis that only restates the numbers instead of interpreting differences and health outcomes.
• Going over or under the word count — stay within 150–250 words.
• Leaving #NAME? or #DIV/0! errors in cells, often from a mistyped function or an empty range.

HLT-362V Summary and Descriptive Statistics FAQ

What dataset is used in the HLT-362V Summary and Descriptive Statistics assignment?

The assignment uses the National Cancer Institute data spreadsheet showing lung and bronchus cancer rates per 100,000 by race/ethnicity. You calculate descriptive statistics for each group and interpret the differences in a short written analysis.

Do I need APA format for this assignment?

No, APA formatting is not required for the Summary and Descriptive Statistics assignment, but solid academic writing — correct grammar, clear sentences, and a professional tone — is still expected in your analysis paragraph.

Should I use sample or population standard deviation?

Use the sample functions VAR and STDEV unless your instructor states the data represents an entire population, in which case use VARP and STDEVP. HLT-362V generally treats the data as a sample.

How long should the analysis be?

The written analysis should be 150 to 250 words. It must interpret the differences between groups and connect them to health outcomes, not simply repeat the calculated numbers.

Why is the mean different from the median in some groups?

The mean and median differ when a distribution is skewed by unusually high or low values. When they are close, as in this dataset, the distribution is roughly symmetric and the mean is a reliable summary of the group.

About the Author

This guide was prepared by the Gradevia academic team, specialists in nursing and health-sciences coursework support for students at GCU, WGU, Walden, and Liberty University. Our writers hold graduate degrees in nursing, public health, and applied statistics, and have produced hundreds of rubric-aligned HLT-362V resources covering descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlation, and article analysis. We focus on helping busy working nurses understand the method, not just the answer.

Article Update Log

• June 17, 2026 — Initial publication. Comprehensive guide to the HLT-362V Summary and Descriptive Statistics benchmark: Excel formulas for all six descriptive statistics, a fully worked National Cancer Institute example, a model 150–250 word analysis, rubric breakdown, and FAQ.