In Excel, what is the initial step for calculating descriptive statistics with raw data?

To calculate descriptive statistics in Excel, the initial step involves determining the input range. This means specifying the range of cells that contain the raw data you want to analyze. The input range is crucial because it defines the dataset that will be evaluated for various statistical measures such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and so on.

Setting the input range correctly allows Excel to know exactly where to pull the data from. Once the input range is established, you can proceed with further steps, such as selecting options like labels, choosing the appropriate analysis tool, or computing summary statistics. Without accurately defining the input range, meaningful calculations cannot be completed, as Excel would not have the necessary data to work from.