Statistical analysis is a method used to collect, review, and interpret data to uncover patterns and trends. It involves using various techniques to summarize data, such as calculating averages or percentages, and to make inferences about a larger population based on a sample. This process is essential in fields like healthcare, business, and social sciences to make informed decisions. The analysis can be descriptive, which summarizes the data, or inferential, which draws conclusions about a population from a sample. Tools like SPSS or R are often used to perform these analyses, helping researchers and analysts understand complex data sets effectively.