Final answer:
Descriptive statistics measure central tendency and variability, with mean and standard deviation as examples of the two types of measures, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Descriptive statistics measure two main characteristics of data: central tendency and variability. Central tendency is represented by statistics such as the mean, median, and mode, which provide an indication of the average or typical value found within a data set.
Variability, on the other hand, is captured by measures like the standard deviation and range, which describe the spread and distribution of values around the central tendency. Both of these aspects are crucial for summarizing and understanding datasets in various fields including epidemiology, social sciences, and business.