Introduction

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As you begin a new course, it is easy to wonder when or whether the “light” will go on. While statistics may seem like something unrelated to your life or your major, there’s a good chance that you will find something surprising, interesting or applicable as you proceed through the course.

Are you curious about the world around you? Are you interested in ways to describe patterns and trends? Would you like to draw conclusions—or evaluate the conclusions of others—based on the evidence you see? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then statistics can be a valuable tool for you.

Whether you are studying statistics because it sounds interesting or because it is required for your educational program, you will be able to find many applications that interest you. Statistical techniques are used in a broad range of fields, including sports management, computer engineering, sustainable agriculture, supply chain management, social work, and criminal justice. Both professional journals and popular media present results of statistical analysis. Whatever your field of study, you are likely to encounter statistics along the way.