The statistical properties of a single parameter are investigated by means of univariate analysis. Such a parameter could be, for example, the organic carbon content of a sedimentary unit, the thickness of a sandstone layer, the age of sanidine crystals in a volcanic ash or the volume of landslides. Both the number and the size of samples that we collect from a larger population are oft en limited by financial and logistical constraints. The methods of univariate statistics assist us to draw from the sample conclusions that apply to the population as a whole.