What Is Statistics?

Statistics is the scientific application of mathematical principles to the collection, analysis, and presentation of numerical data. Modern statistical methods involve the design and analysis of experiments and surveys, the quantification of biological, social and scientific phenomenon and the application of statistical principles to understand more about the world around us. Since data are used in most areas of human endeavor, the theory and methods of modern statistics have been applied to a wide variety of fields. Some areas that use modern statistical methods are the medical, biological and social sciences, economics, finance, marketing research, manufacturing and management, government, research institutes and many more. Exciting new areas are opening up, due to developments in areas such as biotechnology, survey research and computing.

The word statistics, when referring to the scientific discipline, is singular, as in "Statistics is an art". This should not be confused with the word statistic, referring to a quantity (such as mean or median) calculated from a set of data, whose plural is statistics ("this statistic seems wrong" or "these statistics are misleading").