Statistics
Noun
US
/stəˈtɪstɪks/
UK
/stəˈtɪs.tɪks/
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US
/stəˈtɪstɪks/
UK
/stəˈtɪs.tɪks/
The science of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data to identify patterns and make informed decisions
A pharmaceutical trial uses statistics to determine if a new drug is effective: p-values below 0.05 indicate the results are statistically significant, not due to random chance.
Election pollsters use statistical sampling: by surveying 1,000 randomly selected voters, they can estimate national preferences with a margin of error of 3%.
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Florence Nightingale pioneered statistical graphics in the 1850s, using her 'coxcomb' diagrams to show that most military deaths were from preventable diseases, not combat. Her statistical evidence led to sanitary reforms that saved thousands of lives.
Used across various IT applications and business environments.
Practical application in IT systems and business operations.