World Statistics Day Question 2: Who is your favorite statistician and why?World Statistics Day is 20 October 2020! It's a celebration of statistics and data that takes place every five years. This time, the theme is “connecting the world with data we can trust.”
We hope you’ll take part in this week’s discussions on statistics and data. The top 25 kudoed commenters will be eligible to receive the book "Invisible Women" by Caroline Criado Perez.
Question 2:
In celebrating World Statistics Day, we honor the impact statistics has on our world. Who is your favorite statistician and why?
Comment below with your response!
Please note: One book per JMP User Community member only. We can only send books to recipients within the United States and Canada. SAS staff not eligible.
Take the pledge! We’re asking data explorers to take a pledge with JMP to use trustworthy data to help connect the world. A badge will indicate to the Community your commitment to reliable data. jmp.com/statsday2020
AnalyticsRe: World Statistics Day Question 2: Who is your favorite statistician and why?John Wilder Tukey. Read the attached article and let's talk...
Re: World Statistics Day Question 2: Who is your favorite statistician and why?I could easily say George Box. What a delightful person, but my shoutout is similar to Lou's, but to Jim Goodnight. His guiding hands made SAS the "Standard" of statistical software for decades.
Re: World Statistics Day Question 2: Who is your favorite statistician and why?Asking this question is like asking me which of my kids is the favorite...No doubt Deming has had a huge influence on me. Additional statisticians that have had an impact on me are (with some sample of their contribution):
Fisher: for his insight into running experiments in a noisy environment
Box: for his incredible ability to communicate difficult concepts to the lay person and his contributions to experimental design
Daniel: well not a statistician, but his insights into DOE
Hunter (both Bill and Stu): for many reasons
Shewhart: the control chart method
Wheeler: contributions to measurement studies
Hogg: The "Boss"
Cornell: Mixtures
Cox: DOE
...well you get the point.
Re: World Statistics Day Question 2: Who is your favorite statistician and why?My favorite statistician would have to be John Sall. The reason is because he provided us with the tool that empowered us to enable data driven decisions. He understood what a scientist/engineer needed to communicate their results and always listened to the voice of the scientist/engineer that enabled them to solve their problems.
Re: World Statistics Day Question 2: Who is your favorite statistician and why?Without question...W. Edwards Deming. I was newly degreed (MS in Applied Mathematical Statistics) and had the opportunity to attend Dr. Deming's famed 4 day seminar. I had a pretty inflated opinion of my skills and abilities and was ready to kick some butt at work.
Dr. Deming began the event by asking the audience a simple question, "Why are you in business?" An attendee then responded, "We're in business to make money. To earn profits." Deming's retort was, "Those of you in business to make money, to earn profits, at the expense of customers, will soon enough have neither of both." I was scratching my head. What?
By the time I had experienced The Funnel, Red Bead, Deming's 14 points, Seven Deadly Diseases, and System of Profound Knowledge...I was humbled...and realized my degree was just a piece of paper signifying, well, not much. I had learned by the close of the seminar I had so much still to learn to call myself a competent statistician. Hopefully I made some progress by the time I retired?
