Question

Why is the science of statistics important?

Consider the following quote: "Torture numbers, and they'll confess to anything." Gregg Easterbrook • How does this quote apply to the science of statistics? Why might the answer to any question in statistics be "it depends.

Answer 1

This means that in statistics if you torture the data long enough,it will confess to anything.

Sometimes statistics can be manipulated to support any conclusion.This means if you keep on digging the data for more information and some assertions which you have in your mind, then you might reach to some conclusions which were completely unexpected.This outcome will only come if you stay with the data for long time and keep on thinking what things it can indicate other than the obvious.

There might be some conclusions which were not evident before but after long time search and reading the data they now become relevant.

Answer to any question in statistics starts with it depends because of your approach on viewing the data and stating the conclusions.

If you view the data from your perspective after analyzing the situation,it might differ with someone else's perspective after they analysed the situation separately.

So in statistics people usually say it depends because of one's own views and thinking.