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Research draft

statistics

vr.tr.statistics · INF.KNW

Let an agent handle statistics by method, data source, interpretation and communication, citing official statistics and avoiding misuse.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems

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

formal science

uses - foundation

probability

is produced by - official source

national statistics office

is related to - misinterpretation

cognitive bias

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

census datastatistical datafunnel analysisstatistical hydrologyforensic statisticsbranch of statisticscircular analysisdemographic statisticsgeostatisticshealth statisticsstatistical machine translationmuseum statisticsintrinsic geostatisticseconomic statisticsbirth statisticsstatistics of legitimated childrenmarriage statisticsvital statisticsstochastic analysis and modellingtime series and spatial modellinglibrary statisticstime series analysiscommunication statisticscultural statisticsscience statisticsregional statisticsagricultural statistics in the NetherlandsCity statisticsPlastic waste statisticsLiterature statisticsfinance statisticsmilitary statisticsstatistical geneticsdimensionality reductionparametric statisticsmultivariate statisticsapplied statisticsSanitary statisticsstatistics in sportsstatistical biochemistry

+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.

  1. Which official or peer-reviewed source provides this statistic? provenance
  2. For which period and population? definition

Quality

Methods.

Quality

Data quality.

  1. How was the data collected and how large is the sample? measurement
  2. What are the known limitations? boundary
Analysis Methods.

Methods must fit.

Method

Choice.

Method

Method choice.

  1. Which statistical method suits this question and data? action
  2. What assumptions does it make? boundary

Uncertainty

Intervals.

Uncertainty

Uncertainty.

  1. What is the margin of error or confidence interval? measurement
  2. Is the result statistically and practically significant? boundary
Interpretation Meaning.

Interpretation needs care.

Causation

Correlation.

Causation

Correlation and causation.

  1. Does the evidence support causation or only correlation? boundary
  2. What design would test causation? definition

Misleading

Red flags.

Misleading

Misleading statistics.

  1. Is the chart or claim misleading, for example by truncated axes? boundary
  2. How can it be presented fairly? action
Learning Skills.

Statistical literacy helps.

Literacy

Understanding.

Literacy

Statistical literacy.

  1. How can this statistic be explained in plain language? action
  2. Would natural frequencies help? action

Tools

Software.

Tools

Tools.

  1. Which software can perform this analysis? provenance
  2. 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?