文档介绍：8 Resampling: The New Statistics
INTRODUCTION
Uses of Probability
and Statistics
Introduction
What Kinds of Problems Shall We Solve?
Probabilities and Decisions
Whether to Buy More Trucks
Types of Statistics
Limitations of Probability and Statistics
Introduction
This chapter introduces you to probability and statistics. First
come examples of the kinds of practical problems that this
knowledge can solve for us. Next this Introduction discusses
the relationship of probabilities to decisions. es a dis-
cussion of the two general types of statistics, descriptive and
inferential. Following this is a discussion of the limitations of
probability and statistics. And last is a brief history of statis-
tics. Most important, the chapter describes the types of prob-
lems the book will tackle.
Because the term “statistic” often scares and confuses people—
and indeed, the term has several sorts of meanings—the chap-
ter includes a short section on “Types of Statistics.” Descrip-
tive statistics are numbers that summarize the information con-
tained in a group of data. Inferential statistics are procedures
to estimate unknown quantities; that is, these procedures in-
fer estimates and conclusions based on whatever descriptive
statistics are available.
At the foundation of sound decision-making lies the ability to
make accurate estimat