Master’s Notebook
Statistics Training Sharpens Skills
Gordon sun, AsA Committee on Applied statisticians
T
raining in statistics politicians use their analytical
(including all statistics- skills to lay out arguments. Audit
related disciplines) is one professionals use their problem-
of the best ways to sharpen your solving abilities to understand the
analytical skills. What is analyti- “why” behind the data. Physicians
cal skill? Wikipedia defines it as use their logical thinking to gath-
the ability to visualize, articulate, er and analyze information and
solve complex problems and con- to make decisions. There is no
cepts, and make decisions that question that analytical skills are
make sense based on available essential to many professions.
information. Such skills include
demonstration of the ability to
Analytical Thinking:
apply logical thinking to gather- A Four-Step Process
ing and analyzing information,
How can training in statistics
designing and testing solutions to
improve your analytical skills?
problems, and formulating plans.
Let’s use analytical thinking, a
Statistics includes methodology,
core analytical skill, as an exam-
procedure, and techniques used to
ple. Analytical thinking is reflect-
formulate and simplify complex
ed in a four-step process: hypoth-
problems; design experiments; and
esis formulation, data collection,
collect, process, and analyze data
analysis, and inference. This pro-
to make inferences and research
cess symbolizes how statistics is
decisions in the face of uncer-
taught as a discipline.
tainty. There are many correlations
Hypothesis formulation
between training in statistics and
teaches you how to simplify com-
developing analytical skills.
plex problems, define the most
Why are analytical skills
applied across the business, edu-
relevant problems clearly, and
important? Experts think they are
cation, health, science, and tech-
formulate hypotheses. Data col-
mission critical in career develop-
nology fields. For example, you
lection teaches you how to plan
ment. In an article by Randall S.
need to create proposals that are
what you need, look where you
Hansen and Katharine Hansen
subject to review. Now you can
need to dig, and filter informa-
titled “what Do employers Really
use your data analysis skills and
tion required for proving or
Want? Top Skills and Values
have confidence that you have
disproving hypotheses. Analysis
Employers Seek from Job-Seekers,”
a proven methodology; a solid
teaches you the deliberate pro-
analytical/research skills are ranked
plan; and a strong, data-driven
cess of breaking a problem down
second only to communication
assessment for your proposals.
into its parts. By understanding
skills (see
www.quintcareers.com/
its components and how they
job_skills_values.html). In 2007, a
How Can I Be Trained
fit together, you understand the
financial leadership council com-
in Statistics?
whole better. Finally, inference
posed of executives from indus-
guides you through the process
Many institutions offer profes-
try, academia, and professional
of deriving a logical conclusion
sional degrees in statistics or
associations predicted that job
from the outcome of hypothesis
training courses for nonstat-
candidates with analytical skills
testing. It requires you to assess
isticians. The perception that
will be in high demand (see www.
multiple perspectives and develop
one trained in statistics has to
financialleadershipcouncil.com).
an effective solution.
remain a statistician is no longer
It is hardly possible to find a
This four-step analytical
compelling, as people trained
profession that does not require
thinking process strengthens your
in statistics continue to pursue
analytical skills. Lawyers and
problemsolving skills and can be
other professions. n
OCTObER 2009 AMsTAT NEWs 39
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