Comment Statistics and the interpretation of probability (Score 1) 590
One great difficulty in the adoption of statistical methods and statistical thinking is the question of the interpretation of probability theory. Most statisticians and physicists favour the frequentist interpretation (at least according to Wikipedia), but in computer science we often see the subjective interpretation as well, mostly in its Bayesian form.
In using and understanding statistics, I believe it is crucial to consistently adhere to one interpretation of probability. In media, I have often seen frequentist statistics being presented as if it were to be interpreted subjectively. I think honest presenters of statistics must acknowledge that there is a mile-wide gap between asserting that the relative frequency of some event is high in a certain sequence, and asserting that the degree of rational belief that a certain event will happen is high. Even if everybody read "How to Lie with Statistics", I think the problem of the interpretation of probability would continue to be a source of confusion for both the general public and statisticians.
In my probability and statistics class, I was frustrated by the fact that they did not even mentioned the problem. We were simply given the Kolmogorov axioms and some set theory and told to get to work. However, I suspect this is the common case for such entry-level courses.
In using and understanding statistics, I believe it is crucial to consistently adhere to one interpretation of probability. In media, I have often seen frequentist statistics being presented as if it were to be interpreted subjectively. I think honest presenters of statistics must acknowledge that there is a mile-wide gap between asserting that the relative frequency of some event is high in a certain sequence, and asserting that the degree of rational belief that a certain event will happen is high. Even if everybody read "How to Lie with Statistics", I think the problem of the interpretation of probability would continue to be a source of confusion for both the general public and statisticians.
In my probability and statistics class, I was frustrated by the fact that they did not even mentioned the problem. We were simply given the Kolmogorov axioms and some set theory and told to get to work. However, I suspect this is the common case for such entry-level courses.
