Career Development for Statisticians: Making Creative Use of Future Opportunities and Challenges

• Activity Number: 535
• Type: Roundtables
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 : 12:30 PM to 1:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Government Statistics
• Author(s): John L. Eltinge*+
• Companies: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Keywords: Balance of statistical quality, cost and risk ; Communication ; Perceived utility functions ; Professional norms and standards ; Societal and scientific context ; Stakeholders

Abstract

Over the next decade, all statisticians working with the federal statistical system will encounter an extraordinary range of opportunities and challenges arising from the increasing need for sophisticated statistical information. This roundtable discusses career development for statisticians within the context of these opportunities and challenges, with emphasis on the development and use of skills to do the following.

a. Understand the societal and scientific context in which we carry out statistical work. Of special importance are the professional norms and perceived utility functions of primary stakeholders.

b. Exercise well-informed judgment on where and how sophisticated statistical methodology can add substantial value to areas in which stakeholders need high-quality information.

c. Develop a rigorous understanding of the balance among benefits, costs and risks encountered in development, implementation and operation of the methodology identified in (b).

d. Articulate all of the ideas above in ways that are clear, accessible and tuned to the norms and perceived utility functions of the statistical profession, primary stakeholders, and the public