Statistics: Making Better Decisions

• Activity Number: 453
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 : 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
• Sponsor: ASA
• Author(s): David Morganstein*
• Companies: Westat

Abstract

Statisticians play a vital role in making better decisions. Like other scientists, statisticians contribute an important objectivity to the discovery process. One of our special gifts, however, is an ability to incorporate the inevitable limitations of information into the decision-making process. In her presidential address, Gertrude Cox looked to "Statistical Frontiers" and challenged us to recognize our obligations toward other human beings. In response, we have done much to become a diverse, multicultural community and there is more we can do! I'll review recent initiatives that enhance our association's efforts to serve our members and society in solving vital problems. I'll suggest why statisticians are adept at reducing the impact of data limitations by using good designs and transforming less-than-perfect data to enhance decision making and thus improve the human condition. This is what we do. This is statistics.