Why Study Statistics? Statistics are used by scientists, economists, government officials, industry and manufacturers. Statistical decisions are made constantly and affect our daily lives - from the medicine we take, the treatments we receive, the aptitude and psychometric tests employers give routinely, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear (wool manufacturers use statistical tests to determine the thread weave for our comfort) to the food we eat and even the beer we drink.
Knowledge of some basic statistics can even save or extend lives - as it did for Stephen Jay Gould, whom we will hear more about later.
