What does a statistician do?

Statistics involves the systematic collection of numerical data and its interpretation.

Statistics is about using scientific methods for collecting, organising, summarising, presenting and analysing data, as well as drawing valid conclusions and making reasonable decisions on the basis of this analysis.

You could say that figures are not facts in themselves; they only become relevant to discussions and decisions when they are interpreted.

The main function of statistics is to provide information which will help in making decisions.



Statistics involves communicating information to the general public

The ease of processing numerical data has increased its use and availability. But the general public can usually understand written, spoken or visual information better than numerical information.

For example, the headline 'High Unemployment but Consumer Boom Continues' is a statistical statement. It is an interpretation of data on the levels of employment and of data on sales figures.

So statisticians often translate numerical information into written, spoken or visual information. However, sometimes facts can only be given sensibly in numerical form.



Branches of Statistics:

Descriptive Statistics	This deals with the compilation and presentation of data in various forms such as tables, graphs and diagrams. The purpose of descriptive statistics is to display and pass on information from which conclusions can be drawn and decisions made. Businesses, for example, use descriptive statistics when presenting their annual accounts and reports, and Zimstat also provides descriptive statistics.
Inferential Statistics	This deals with the tools of statistics, the techniques that are used to analyse the data and to make estimates or draw conclusions from the data. We use inferential statistical method to make predictions and projections. We use sample results to make statements about a population.