What is Statistics?

"I like to think of statistics as the science of learning from data...It presents exciting opportunities for those who work as professional statisticians. Statistics is essential for the proper running of government, central to decision making in industry, and a core component of modern educational curricula at all levels."

Jon Kettenring
ASA President, 1997

American Heritage Dictionary® defines statistics as: "The mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of population characteristics by inference from sampling."

The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary® definition is: "A branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data."

The steps of statistical analysis involve collecting information, evaluating it, and drawing conclusions. The information might be:

*       A test group's favorite amount of sweetness in a blend of fruit juices

*       The number of men and women hired by a city government

*       The velocity of a burning gas on the sun's surface

Statisticians provide crucial guidance in determining what information is reliable and which predictions can be trusted. They often help search for clues to the solution of a scientific mystery, and sometimes keep investigators from being misled by false impressions. Statisticians work in a variety of fields, including medicine, government, education, agriculture, business, and law.

 

What do Statisticians do?

Statisticians help determine the sampling and data collection methods, monitor the execution of the study and the processing of data, and advise on the strengths and limitations of the results. They must understand the nature of uncertainties and be able to draw conclusions in the context of particular statistical applications.

*       Surveys: Survey statisticians collect information from a carefully specified sample and extend the results to an entire population.

*       Government Operations: Government statisticians conduct experiments to aid in the development of public policy and social programs.

*       Scientific Research: Statistical sciences are used to enhance the validity of inferences in all scientific research.

*       Business And Industry: Statisticians quantify unknowns in order to optimize resources.

 

For More Information

Professional Statistical Society:	American Statistical Association (ASA)
Careers in the Statistical Sciences:	ASA Career Center
Find a job in the Statistical Sciences:	ASA Jobs
Read Statistics Journals:	JSTOR