Introduction to Statistics

About the lecture

In this mini-lecture, we provide an introduction to statistics. As we move through this mini-lecture, we think about: (i) what statistics is and how it is used; (ii) statistics and data in real-world scenarios, such as healthcare, air quality, and flooding; (iii) one of the first examples of statistics used for the greater good: the diagram made by epidemiologist, John Snow, that shows the distribution of deaths during the 1854 Broad Street cholera outbreak; (iv) primary data and secondary data; (v) quantitative data and qualitative data; and (vi) two types of quantitative data: discrete data and continuous data.

About the lecturer

Craig Anderson is a Senior Lecturer in Statistics at the University of Glasgow. His research interests lie in developing statistical methodology for health data, with a focus on health inequalities both in Scotland and globally. He is particularly interested in spatial statistics and the development of methodology for disease mapping, and also works on growth modelling, specifically identifying and developing suitable modelling strategies to accurately capture the growth trajectories of young children in low and middle income countries. Dr Anderson has a strong passion for outreach and statistics communication. He enjoys working with schools and the general public to improve understanding of the subject. He has written articles for non-academic media outlets such as The Conversation, and has appeared on local and national radio to talk about this work several times.