Statistical Significance Quotes

I can prove anything by statistics except the truth.

I have never had an interest in opinion polls. They are merely an indicator, that's all.

Statistics is the plural of anecdote.

The fact that we don't keep repeating tests in the same arena is not because the probability of the hypothesis showing its falsity in other arenas goes up after it has passed tests in one arena.

I think the biggest problem in clinical trials is that they are underpowered. And that fundamentally, the studies are just too small.

The analysis of variance is not a mathematical theorem, but rather a convenient method of arranging the arithmetic.

The value and utility of any experiment are determined by the fitness of the material to the purpose for which it is used, and thus in the case before us it cannot be immaterial what plants are subjected to experiment and in what manner such experiment is conducted.

The importance of information is directly proportional to its improbability.

I don’t believe in statistics. I believe in calculus.

Banning pre-poll surveys is certainly no answer in today's world. Sensitising the public and the media as to the good, bad, and desirable aspects of survey research is more sensible than that.

Statistics are about as interesting as first base coaches.

[Coining the phrase "test of significance"] Critical tests of this kind may be called tests of significance, and when such tests are available we may discover whether a second sample is or is not significantly different from the first.

Statistics do not convey emotion. They shock us for a minute or two, and then we click again.

In so far as such a theory is empirically correct it will also tell us what empirical facts it should be possible to observe in a given set of circumstances.

We spend our time bandying statistics about.

To understand God’s thoughts we must study statistics, for these are the measure of his purpose.

Statistics is the most important science in the whole world: for upon it depends the practical application of every other science and of every art: the one science essential to all political and social administration, all education, all organization based on experience, for it only gives results of our experience.

The reality is that most of the time, the more bizarre the trend, the more bogus the results.

I have never been a stats person.

[Statistics] The science that can prove everything except the usefulness of statistics.

[Coining phrase "null hypothesis"] In relation to any experiment we may speak of this hypothesis as the "null hypothesis," and it should be noted that the null hypothesis is never proved or established, but is possibly disproved, in the course of experimentation. Every experiment may be said to exist only in order to give the facts a chance of disproving the null hypothesis.

My job as a pollster is to understand what really matters.

Everyone takes surveys. Whoever makes a statement about human behavior has engaged in a survey of some sort.

Polls are frequently taken to try to tease out or determine likely directions and trends, but once taken, they belong to the past, requiring that new polls be taken.

If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.