It is useful for anyone who is committed to learning from facts instead of authorities. Ignorance of statistics can leave one open to being lied to, cheated, and made to look foolish. |
Mark Twain said, "There are lies, damn lies -- and statistics." This describes a common view about statistics, which is dubious in the extreme about their value. But the fact that statistics can be, and are, distorted and misused cannot change the fact that they have enormous value. Whenever a prevailing orthodoxy exists, it is clarifying to examine that orthodoxy by some objective method, and statistics are one of the best methods. A good working knowledge of statistics can also help us to see clearly when others are misusing statistics to gain advantage. |
Mark Twain said, "There are lies, damn lies -- and statistics." This describes a common view about statistics, which is dubious in the extreme about their value.
But the fact that statistics can be, and are, distorted and misused cannot change the fact that they have enormous value. Whenever a prevailing orthodoxy exists, it is clarifying to examine that orthodoxy by some objective method, and statistics are one of the best methods.
A good working knowledge of statistics can also help us to see clearly when others are misusing statistics to gain advantage.
[Data Mining]? is an applied form of descriptive statistics that involves the analysis of large volumes of data and the extraction of useful correlations or knowledge.