The benefits of gaining a strong statistical background is a rather appropriate topic to address in the first post on this statistics and research skills focused blog. Anyone who knows me will immediately guess at my opinion. The fact of the matter is that I love anything even remotely related to maths (I have been known to squeal with delight at the prospect of proving a formula/theorem) and so I will always be in favour of studying statistics. However, my own personal opinion is not exactly what is required of me, so let’s get down to some facts. Whether or not you view psychology as a science, you will agree that psychologists make use of the scientific method in order to conduct much of their research into the multiple and diverse areas that psychology applies to. But research and collecting data is not enough. It would be pointless to test people and theories were we not to analyse our data and learn from it. To do this, we make use of statistics and with its help and through induction, our knowledge grows and theories gain more support (though are never proven!).
Last year, when I first read the opening section of the first chapter in our research methods book, I thought that the authors’ desperate pleas to their readers to appreciate statistics for what it can do rather embarrassing and a wee bit pathetic (my own love of stats didn’t stop me from thinking they might be coming on a bit too strong). However, having been faced with so many people who hate statistics in this past year, I’m afraid I am now going to hop on board this train, because they were absolutely right (embarrassment/desperation aside). We require both stats and research methods to not only conduct our own studies and to understand the academic research of others, but also to approach the “researched facts” that the media bombard us with critically (such as the vitamin C versus the common cold debate that continues to this day).
Not only this, but a strong statistical background is necessary for anyone wishing to embark on a career in psychology. This study, conducted in New Zealand, assessing statistical ability and its necessity in the following jobs: statistics, economics, marketing, bio science, food science, nutrition and psychology, concluded that a firm grasp of statistics was needed most in both bio science and psychology. It was demonstrated that the statistical knowledge/skills and experience needed by the psychology research graduates – who had a statistical background – was lacking in some areas. The conclusion drawn was that not only was statistical training important in psychology, but that for many, it needed to be increased or further emphasised.
When faced with this particular question on the necessity of having a statistical background, the answer – to me at least – seems rather obvious and straightforward. However, I have no doubt that some of my fellow students might very well disagree with me when I say that the benefits of attaining a strong statistical background far outweigh any disadvantages associated with the subject. That is to say, I actually hope some of you disagree with me on this, otherwise getting into even a lukewarm debate on the topic might prove tricky!
ecstatsic 
What I really do appreciate in this blog is how original all of your evidence and information is. Using examples such as the vitamin c vs the common cold debate is a very good way to entice people to read further because it isn’t repeated in every single blog. By using both scientific and real world evidence to explain how stats effects each and everyone one of us in order to envisage why we do need to put up with it all is a very creative way to present stats as likeable! Also with regards to the structure of how you set out your argument starting with what you actually think and then leading on to backing up what you have said shows that you yourself [as you said] understand the necessity of stats and that from this blog you have presented that really well. However even though you have presented this blog in such a way that scientist or some one who has not done stats could understand it do you not think that sometimes statistics is just used in order to confuse individuals to just agree with what is being said instead of actually knowing fully what they are agreeing to? This is done generally throughout society just so that companies can get what they want. Do you think there is any other way to present information to the public as opposed to just stats?
Hi! I just have to say that firstly i enjoyed reading your blog, and as i do know you fairly well i completely agree that you like maths too much, However, i’m not in complete agreement that statistics is vital for a career in psychology. What if you wanted to be a counsellor and a psychology teacher? I apologise if this is wrong but i know from my A levels that my teachers didnt have a clue about statistics (really not helpful considering they had to teach us it). However, i think that statistics will certainly be an added bonus to your career.. in the case of my teachers, if they knew something about stats the lessons wouldn’t have reduced people to tears (yes this really happened). Anyway, nice little blog going on here, looking forward to next weeks.
Abby
So you’re arguing that a strong statistical background is vital. What about the fact that one piece of contradictory evidence could completely disprove a theory with such a background? Sometimes, no matter how strong an argument or debate is, it only ever takes that one doubt to completely ruin the argument. Once questions are raised about the validity of an experiment, more research is usually done, and that strong statistical background is pointless.
I agree with you that a strong background is definitely beneficial in the field of science – for example drug testing in medical sciences – and I also agree that a knowledge of statistics is also advantageous in jobs such as psychology, but what about those people who are less competent at maths and statistics who are bombarded with statistical ‘facts’? We know the media tend to manipulate a statistic – easily done, to be fair – so what’s your opinion on media statistics, such as the Colgate advert claiming that ‘9/10 dentists would recommend this toothpaste’?? Do you agree with the way statistics in the media are portrayed, and is a real statistical background really needed for statistic-fearing general public?
First, to address the point of one piece of contradictory evidence disproving the theory, of course this is true.However, I would argue that this is in no way a weakness – it is in fact necessary. As we learnt last year, all scientific theories are only deemed scientific if they are falsifiable. Statistics in the field of science is never deemed as proof and I would not assume that high statistical probability implies proof. A strong statistical background merely backs up theories and gives them strength and if, as you say, this theory were to be discarded due to having been falsified, then no doubt the method used to support and credit the new theory would be to use statistics. In summary, stats are indeed falsifiable, but this is a necessary scientific assumption and does not mean that stats provide weak support for the theories in which they are used.
Second, you make a valid point about the misuse of statistics by the media. I do not agree with either the misleading (75% of people agree from a group of 4) or the sensationalist approach used (drinking coffee will certainly kill you). I feel that if the public were shown particular statistical tools or just informed of how unreliable small groups are and that correlation does not equal causation, the power of advertising and media statistics would diminish substantially.
I agree with psud6e, yes there is an importance of stats but how reliable are they when used in the media and shouldn’t this be taken with caution.
I love the argument and originality of this blog and agree the statistics is important for many careers and in our psychology degree but do also have to agree with the previous comment where someone argued your point about statistics being vital for a psychology career! Like mentioned many areas of psychology don’t actually require a statistical background.
However in conclusion I do think having a statistical background is important for understanding research you will come across but also understanding clearly media.
After reading this blog I can see that you have a good relationship with statistics which i can say is quite rare nowadays :P. You have mentioned that you love anything to do with maths with reference to statistics, however, the question now is….how mathematical based is statistics? especially with reference to a trainee psychologist? Just thought i would put that out there :). I do however love the enthusiasm you have for statistics and I am sure you are probably very good at it to. My point is…what other professional career would benefit from a background in statistics? Psychology is obviously a popular (hence why else would we be using it in are degree :P)
In all….a very informative piece of writing 🙂
Your blog is a very interesting read – for many reasons. Firstly, for the fact you seem to be fascinated with statistics?! You make very valid points on why gaining a strong statistical background is important, especially in relation to psychology and psychological research. However, statistics stem far from just being used within the examples you provide in your argument. It is important to note that statistics are commonly distributed in various other fields such as medicine, the media, and advertisements and also other areas such as crime rates and average incomes. Without the use of statistics, the medical world would not at all be reliable and half as trustworthy. Medicines need to be rigorously tested in order to check for side effects, effectiveness and appropriateness of treatment to gain best results for patients. In a review carried out by Davis et al (1980), he found a significant difference in the effectiveness of antipsychotics in the treatment of
Schizophrenia. Here, without the use of statistics researchers would not be able to make informed decisions about which treatments are considered most effectiveness thus demonstrating the importance of gaining a strong statistical background in medicine. To sum up, I agree with your argument that statistics are extremely important and have merely exposed you to more examples of where statistics can be useful, if not vital which you may be interested in considering your love for stats.
You make excellent and thoughtful points about the benefits of understanding statistics, and put forward the point that a grasp of stats is vital to a career in psychology. While I realise some would debate this, it must be noted that statistics form a vital diagnostic tool for counselling psychologists, and that psychology teachers should understand their curriculum, along with myriad other occupations where stats plays a subtle yet important role.
As has already been said, you presented your argument with original and unique perspectives, and kept me engaged throughout. Can’t wait to read your next entry.