What Statisticians Really Do
We came across these images in a series of humorous montages that professionals had created about what they do. This one was created by Jason Sullivan.
Each of these rings true not only because it represents how quantitative researchers are seen by different audiences, but also because there is a grain of truth in each as well. Statistics involves complicated math, a bit of art mixed in with the science, lots of computing, and discerning reality behind the numbers. Regrettably, too, some market research may stretch the truth.
But most unfortunate of all is the BIG grain of truth in the final image. It is a boring bar chart, which truly reflects what most market research produces nowadays.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Behind every bar chart or every data table is a story. The challenge for researchers and statisticians is to tell that story. All it takes is bit of experience, brainpower, and thoughtful effort to link the data to questions that need to be answered. How? Here are two articles we highly recommend:
Turning Data Into Stories: A How-To Guide
If you need statisticians who will move beyond data charts and help you communicate the story in your data, call us for help.
—Joe Hopper, Ph.D.