The Religion of Statistics
The Practice of Statistics as Seen by Others
I suggest that the major way others encounter formal statistics is through a religious experience with some of the following attributes:
The Practice of Statistics as Seen by Others
I suggest that the major way others encounter formal statistics is through a religious experience with some of the following attributes:
- A Priestly Cast who "understand” and who will say "believe" and "trust" us that we know.
- A Foreign Language with unfamiliar characters and pictures that only the special few have mastered.
- Bring your data to be blessed or anointed by the priestly ones who use strange chants. When we say: "It is statistically significant at the point oh five or point oh oh one level" you have reached Nirvana and they can now publish their results.
- Of course there are Holy Books some written by various Gurus amongst us (with each of us attempting to attain that level). There are also different major denominations or possibly even a cult or two.
- Ability to provide you with your own temple in the privacy of your home or office so you can pray with the MAGICAL, Mystical Computer Programs complete with “wizards” to guide you to the promised answer.