Introduction to Statistics [1]
There are three different types of questions that can be asked about the observations made by human beings of characteristics and events in the real world.
First, there are questions concerned with the magnitude, the pattern and the likeliness of occurrence of the observed events in the world. Secondly, with knowledge gained as answers to the first set of questions, it is sometimes necessary to make a decision whether or not a specific course of action is likely to produce beneficial effects in a particular problem situation. The costs of the course of action are generally considered together with the financial gains or losses arising from the making of a decision. Thirdly, there are questions that take into account prior knowledge and that consider the likeliness of occurrence of observed events in the future.
These three types of questions have given rise to three different branches of statistics, namely the Fisherian approach, the Neyman-Pearson approach and the Bayesian approach, respectively. Failure to see these approaches as being concerned with different types of questions has led to widespread controversy and a tendency to view statistics as a field that is not unified and is divided by conflict. In addition, there is a tendency not to separate the different types of questions and develop a mixed statistical approach that does not distinguish between questions of likeliness and those associated with the making of decisions, or those concerned with predicting the occurrence of events in the future. Read more ...
Technorati Tags: introduction to statistics, statisticsFirst, there are questions concerned with the magnitude, the pattern and the likeliness of occurrence of the observed events in the world. Secondly, with knowledge gained as answers to the first set of questions, it is sometimes necessary to make a decision whether or not a specific course of action is likely to produce beneficial effects in a particular problem situation. The costs of the course of action are generally considered together with the financial gains or losses arising from the making of a decision. Thirdly, there are questions that take into account prior knowledge and that consider the likeliness of occurrence of observed events in the future.
These three types of questions have given rise to three different branches of statistics, namely the Fisherian approach, the Neyman-Pearson approach and the Bayesian approach, respectively. Failure to see these approaches as being concerned with different types of questions has led to widespread controversy and a tendency to view statistics as a field that is not unified and is divided by conflict. In addition, there is a tendency not to separate the different types of questions and develop a mixed statistical approach that does not distinguish between questions of likeliness and those associated with the making of decisions, or those concerned with predicting the occurrence of events in the future. Read more ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment