WHAT DO STATISTICIANS DO?

Statisticians help determine the sampling and data collection methods, monitor the execution of the study and the processing of data, and advise on the strengths and limitations of the results. They must understand the nature of uncertainties and be able to draw conclusions in the context of particular statistical applications.

 Surveys: Survey statisticians collect information from a carefully specified sample and extend the results to an entire population. Sample surveys might be used to:

	Determine which political candidate is more popular
	Discover what foods teenagers prefer for breakfast
	Estimate the number of children living in a given school district

 Government Operations: Government statisticians conduct experiments to aid in the development of public policy and social programs. Such experiments include:

	Consumer prices
	Fluctuations in the economy
	Employment patterns

 Scientific Research: Statistical sciences are used to enhance the validity of inferences in:

	Radiocarbon dating to estimate the risk of earthquakes
	Clinical trials to investigate the effectiveness of new treatments
	Field experiments to evaluate irrigation methods
	Measurements of water quality
	Psychological tests to study how we reach the everyday decisions in our lives

 Business And Industry: Statisticians quantify unknowns in order to optimize resources. They:

	Predict the demand for products and services
	Check the quality of items manufactured in a facility
	Manage investment portfolios
	Forecast how much risk activities entail, and calculate fair and competitive insurance rates