Statistical Practice in Developing Countries: Contributions and Challenges

• Activity Number: 126
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 5, 2013 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Statistics Without Borders
• Author(s): Krisztina Filep*+ and Vinh Nguyen *+ and Pinar Ucar*+ and Jackie Pennings*+ and Marina Hanna*+ and William Fripp*+
• Companies: Statistics without Borders and Statistics Without Borders and Pyongyang Summer Institute in Survey Science and Quantitative Methodology and Pyongyang Summer Institute in Survey Science and Quantitative Methodology and Texas A&M University and Stephen F. Austin State University
• Keywords: Statistical consulting ; Developing countries ; statistical practice

Abstract

Comprised entirely of volunteers, Statistics without Borders, an outreach group of American Statistical Association provides pro bono statistical consulting to nongovernmental organizations and government agencies particularly from developing nations which do not have the resources for statistical services. Statistical practice case studies presented in this SWB panel cover: relief operations by American Red Cross, survey statistics training provided to university students in North Korea, Engineers Without Borders' health survey in Belize. Volunteer professionals address statistical opportunities that meet pragmatic needs of the disadvantaged people in developing countries and discuss challenges to overcome.