Statistics is a set of methods that are used to collect and analyze data. Statistical methods help people identify, study, and solve many problems. They enable people to make informed decisions about uncertain situations.
Statistical methods play an important role in a wide variety of occupations. Doctors and public health officials rely on statistics when determining whether certain drugs and therapies help in the treatment of medical problems. Engineers use statistics to set standards for product safety and quality. Weather forecasters and climate researchers work with statistical models to understand and predict weather patterns and climate trends. Scientists consider statistical ideas when designing and evaluating experiments. Psychologists study statistics to learn about human behavior. Statistical techniques enable economists to discover the impact of government policies and to predict future economic conditions.
People often use the word statistics as a plural noun to mean numerical data or numerical summaries of data. Used as a singular noun, statistics means the set of methods used to collect and analyze data and report conclusions.
