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1.1: What to Expect

  • Page ID
    56620

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    This chapter discusses the ubiquitous nature of data in the modern world, and how that data is used to make important decisions. Of course, data has always existed, and one does not collect data unless they would like to learn something about the world. It was not until the 17th century that scientists and mathematicians began to systematically study what should be done with all the data that was being collected. By the mid 20th century, the use of formal statistical inference was commonplace in scientific investigations, and the world of business and manufacturing soon found that statistical reasoning was an invaluable part of the business decision-making process. By the late 20th century, the use of statistical methods became embedded in nearly every part of society. The new century witnessed new and incredibly powerful computing technology, and with it the use of new and sophisticated statistical reasoning and advanced computational algorithms that brought the promise of intelligent machine-based decision systems, or artificial intelligence. This chapter provides an overview of these developments and gives examples of how statistical reasoning and computational power are used in the world today.

    By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

    • Discuss the general history of the use of data in the modern world.
    • Discuss why knowledge of statistics and data science is important to everyone.
    • Discuss examples of the use of data in real world applications.

    This page titled 1.1: What to Expect is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .

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