Statistics and Truth, Putting Change to Work

by C. Radhakrishna Rao

Written by one of the top most statisticians with experience in diverse fields of applications of statistics, the book deals with the philosophical and methodological aspects of information technology, collection and analysis of data to provide insight into a problem, whether it is scientific research, policy making by government or decision making in our daily lives.The author dispels the doubts that chance is an expression of our ignorance which makes accurate prediction impossible and illustrates how our thinking has changed with quantification of uncertainty by showing that chance is no longer the obstructor but a way of expressing our knowledge. Indeed, chance can create and help in the investigation of truth. It is eloquently demonstrated with numerous examples of applications that statistics is the science, technology and art of extracting information from data and is based on a study of the laws of chance. It is highlighted how statistical ideas played a vital role in scientific and other investigations even before statistics was recognized as a separate discipline and how statistics is now evolving as a versatile, powerful and inevitable tool in diverse fields of human endeavor such as literature, legal matters, industry, archaeology and medicine.Use of statistics to the layman in improving the quality of life through wise decision making is emphasized.

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1989

Reviews

[Cigdem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this book as it illustrated the importance of statistics with wonderful quotes and delightful examples.

[Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

第四章没读了 也读不懂...T_T 去找点课上一上！

[Lucas]

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[Babe Gladwaller · Rating 4 out of 5]

在终极的分析中，一切知识都是历史。
在抽象的意义下，一切科学都是数学。
在理性的基础上，所有的判断都是统计学。

[Sai Krishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS A GOLD MINE!

Any one remotely interested in statistics, data science, public policy and science should read this book. It is a philosophical treatise. It has the "Why" behind statistics - which I rarely found anywhere else.

3rd and 4th chapters could get a bit technical, but rest of the chapters serve general readers as well.

Greatly indebted to DR CR Rao for writing this.