Presented by Jonathan Bertowitz
In this two-part series, explore the science behind uncertainty.
Dec 1.
Statistical Literacy
Statistics has been called the science of using simple words for complicated concepts. Basic concepts, beginning with the size of numbers, an average, a percentage, variation, and randomness are not as simple as you think. What is uncertainty? What is an estimate and how is one made? We’ll move on to innocuous sounding terms such as normal, significance, correlation, margin of error, power, error, and test. All have specific meanings that are often misunderstood and miscommunicated.
Dec 8.
How Statistics Shapes Your World
Florence Nightingale called statistics “the most important science in the whole world; for upon it depends the practical application of every other science and of every art”. It is a cornerstone of medicine and decision-making in politics, business, behavioural economics, and much more. Statistics describes the search for patterns in the aggregate that can be applied to the individual. Its ideas and techniques are designed to discover what data mean. Virtually every area of life uses statistics in one form or another. Familiarity with statistics not only helps us make better decisions, it helps us avoid being misled by those who misuse data.
Bio: Jonathan Bertowitz is a consulting statistician and recently retired UBC professor. For 11 years he is the Word Guy on CBC Radio talking about the English language. He has written two general interest books: The Whirled of Words: Puzzling Past and Present, and Tales From the Word Guy.