statistics
Let an agent handle statistics by method, data source, interpretation and communication, citing official statistics and avoiding misuse.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle statistics by method, data source, interpretation and communication, citing official statistics and avoiding misuse.
The discipline concerned with collecting, analysing, interpreting and presenting data, including descriptive and inferential statistics, probability models and official statistics produced by national agencies.
What it is for: Evidence-based decisions in science, government and business.
It can be find official statistics; choose appropriate methods; interpret uncertainty and significance; spot misleading statistics.
Distinguishing features
Studies data and uncertainty
Descriptive and inferential
Official statistics are regulated
Easily misused
What it looks like
Tables, charts, models and reports.
How it is recognised
Means, medians, confidence intervals
Official statistics releases
A single statistic is one number, not the discipline
Related models
is a kind of - category
uses - foundation
is produced by - official source
is related to - misinterpretation
In practice
Families and kinds
descriptive statistics
inferential statistics
Bayesian statistics
official statistics
applied fields such as forensic statistics
Standards and regulation
UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics
European Statistics Code of Practice
ISO 3534 vocabulary
Failure modes and hazards
Misleading charts
P-hacking and misuse of p-values
Confusing correlation and causation
Also called
+38
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.statistics
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Data Sources.
Sources determine quality.
Source
Official data.
Source
Data source.
- Which official or peer-reviewed source provides this statistic? provenance
- For which period and population? definition
Quality
Methods.
Quality
Data quality.
- How was the data collected and how large is the sample? measurement
- What are the known limitations? boundary
Analysis Methods.
Methods must fit.
Method
Choice.
Method
Method choice.
- Which statistical method suits this question and data? action
- What assumptions does it make? boundary
Uncertainty
Intervals.
Uncertainty
Uncertainty.
- What is the margin of error or confidence interval? measurement
- Is the result statistically and practically significant? boundary
Interpretation Meaning.
Interpretation needs care.
Causation
Correlation.
Causation
Correlation and causation.
- Does the evidence support causation or only correlation? boundary
- What design would test causation? definition
Misleading
Red flags.
Misleading
Misleading statistics.
- Is the chart or claim misleading, for example by truncated axes? boundary
- How can it be presented fairly? action
Learning Skills.
Statistical literacy helps.
Literacy
Understanding.
Literacy
Statistical literacy.
- How can this statistic be explained in plain language? action
- Would natural frequencies help? action
Tools
Software.
Tools
Tools.
- Which software can perform this analysis? provenance
- Is it reproducible? boundary
What the second pass must settle
- Should statistical methods be separate entries?
- How should official statistics be linked?
- How should uncertainty be communicated?