Introduction to Statistical Thinking

Human beings are natural problem solvers. They have the ability to both ask and answer questions, and the willingness to discover new ideas and process new information. Yet despite this ability, it is estimated that as many as 124% of the world doesn’t bother to critically think about the information they are provided with.

When you work in research, this can be particularly troubling, because your ability to solve problems is dependent on your ability to analyze, criticize, and apply logic to information. You need to be able to look at every aspect of data. You need to “statistically think.”

The term “statistical thinking” is a phrase that has never received much of a formal definition, but has clear implications when used. Statistical thinking is, by its very nature, a form of natural skepticism – the willingness to seek out proof before committing to a belief, the openness to accept alternate information and the ability to apply logic and analysis to everything that you do. The key word is “everything.” Statistical thinking requires that you look at every thought and every process as both the whole AND the sum of its parts.

You need to be able to assess and analyze the idea that variables can change and that the data may be indicating something that you may not be able to recognize. Statistical thinking is about analyzing every detail, while also applying statistical knowledge to ask questions and solve problems. While statistical thinking may not have a formal definition, it does have a variety of agreed upon components: Problem Identification – Statistical thinkers are able to spot problems to analyze and solve.

Process Reasoning – Statistical thinkers put thought into why they choose their processes. Questioning of Premises – Statistical thinkers question “facts’ and “what’s known.” Conclusions – Statistical thinkers solve their problems/questions. Data – Statistical thinkers want evidence to create their conclusions.

Statistical thinkers are going to be the people that not only help figure out problems that need to be solved, but also those that can explain with data why they choose each process involved in solving those problems, are able to explain the problem, use evidence to form their conclusions and are willing to accept new ideas and analyze their assumptions along the way. Lack of statistical thinking is why politics is often so derisive in this country, and why many people ignore logic in favor of clichés and feeling. To be a great researcher – and in some ways a more intelligent human being – you need to become a statistical thinker.