Who is the author of 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900'?

The author of 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900' is Theodore M. Porter.

What are the main themes in 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900'?

The main themes in 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900' include History, Social Commentary, History of Science, Science and Nature.

What genre is 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900'?

'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900' is categorized as History, Science and Nature.

What is the main topic of 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900'?

The main topic of 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900' by Theodore M. Porter is the development of statistical methods and their application in various fields during the 19th century. The book explores how statistical thinking emerged as a significant mode of understanding and interpreting social phenomena, influencing areas such as economics, sociology, and public policy. Porter examines the historical context, key figures, and the intellectual debates surrounding the establishment of statistics as a scientific discipline.

Who is the author of the book?

The author of 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900' is Theodore M. Porter.

What are some key themes discussed in the book?

In 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900', Theodore M. Porter explores several key themes including: Development of Statistics: The book examines how statistical thinking evolved as a discipline during the 19th century, highlighting its transition from a collection of quantitative methods to a significant scientific field. Social and Political Context: Porter discusses how social and political changes, such as the rise of industrialization and urbanization, influenced the demand for statistical analysis in understanding social phenomena and governance. Measurement and Quantification: A key theme is the emphasis on measurement and the role of quantification in making sense of complex social realities, which laid the groundwork for modern social sciences. Interdisciplinary Connections: The book illustrates how statistics integrated with various fields such as economics, sociology, and public health, demonstrating its importance in multiple domains of knowledge. Critiques and Limitations: Porter also addresses the critiques of statistical methods and their limitations, touching upon issues related to data interpretation, bias, and the implications of relying on quantitative analysis in social sciences.

During which years does the book focus on the development of statistical thinking?

The book 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900' by Theodore M. Porter focuses on the development of statistical thinking during the years 1820 to 1900.

How does the author illustrate the impact of statistical thinking on society during that time period?

In 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900', Theodore M. Porter illustrates the impact of statistical thinking on society by exploring several key developments that highlight how statistical methods influenced various domains, such as public health, governmental policy, and social sciences. He details the emergence of statistical societies and the proliferation of statistical data collection which allowed for a more empirical approach to social issues, leading to informed decision-making. Porter discusses significant applications of statistics in areas like epidemic control, where statistical analysis helped to understand disease patterns, and in the administration of social policy, where data-driven approaches shifted the focus towards measurable outcomes. Through case studies and historical examples, Porter demonstrates how statistical thinking not only transformed academic discourse but also had practical consequences for governance and public welfare, thereby reshaping society's approach to knowledge and policy during the 19th century.

The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 Book Summary

In 'The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900', Theodore M. Porter uncovers how the fledgling discipline of statistics transformed the way we perceive and interpret the world around us. This fascinating journey illustrates the clash between empirical data and social thought, revealing the profound implications of statistical reasoning on society and governance. Porter deftly navigates through historical narratives, from the rise of data collection methods to the increasing reliance on numbers in public policy. With a captivating exploration of key figures and events, this book prompts readers to question how statistics shapes our understanding of truth. Dive into the origins of statistical thought and discover its enduring legacy in today's data-driven age.

By Theodore M. Porter

Published: 1986

"The transformation of data into insight reshapes our understanding of the world, revealing patterns hidden in the chaos of everyday life."

Not since the invention of the calculus, if ever, has a new field of mathematics found such extensive application as statistics in the twentieth-century. This book presents thoroughly and lucidly the diverse nineteenth-century origins of the mathematical tool of our day. Emphasizing the debt of science to nonspecialist intellectuals, Theodore Porter describes in detail the nineteenth-century background that produced the burst of modern statistical innovation of the early 1900s. He shows that the natural and social sciences were surprisingly interdependent. Statistics arose as a study of society, the science of the statist, and the pioneering statistical physicists and biologists, Maxwell, Boltzmann, and Galton, each introduced statistical models by pointing to analogies between his discipline and social science. The author also examines significant philosophical issues raised by the development of statistics in the 1800s. For a time, the evident success of statistical social science was held to be inconsistent with human free will. Gradually a consensus was developed that the need for statistical methods arose from the diversity of phenomena, which precluded explanation in detail. Debates concerning the nature of statistical knowledge were central to the new indeterminism that began to emerge at the end of the century. -- from back cover.

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