The Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom

Experts have debated the basic definition of statistics for centuries.

Since the 1800s, the analytical community has discussed the basic definition of statistics. The constant debate and the shifting answers reveal major themes:

• Striking changes have unfolded in the development, application and analysis of statistics.
• Disparate areas of physical and social sciences generated and altered statistical models.
• Statistics is the study of data – a science that touches multiple disciplines.

Economics, biology and modern big data spark debates about the central discipline of statistics. The seven columns – or pillars – of statistics outline the fundamental structures that support the broad systems of data science and analytics. The seven columns stand on ancient ground, with windows into modern applications.

Theories about mean averages and summaries shape the first column. 

The first column of statistics is the most ancient and controversial. During the 1800s, this pillar was called “The Combination of Observations,” or the calculation of the mean...