Abstract #300100

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JSM 2003 Abstract #300100
Activity Number: 457
Type: Invited
Date/Time: Thursday, August 7, 2003 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
Sponsor: International Association for Statistical Education
Abstract - #300100
Title: The History of Statistics in the Classroom
Author(s): Herbert A. David*+
Companies: Iowa State University
Address: Stat. Lab. and Dept. of Statistics, Ames, IA, 50011-1210,
Keywords: History of statistics ; Laplace ; Gauss ; R.A.Fisher
Abstract:

I strongly believe that statistics classes at any level can be enlivened by highlighting colorful contributors to our field. Outlines of some of their research should be supplemented by historical, biographical, and anecdotal material. Laplace (1745-1827) provides a good example. Famous as a theoretical astronomer and mathematician, he is probably best known to statisticians as originator of the central limit theorem. But apparently independently of the publication of Bayes's theorem 10 years earlier, he propsed that (in modern language) posterior density is proportional to likelihood. Laplace lived in turbulent times in France. He examined the young Napoleon, but lasted only six weeks in Napoleon's cabinet. Similar introductions will be given of Gauss and R.A. Fisher, the latter with personal comments.

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