John Tukey said that the best thing about being a statistician is that you get to play in everyone’s backyard. It’s a great quote. While it more obviously reflects the tendency of applied statisticians (defined broadly) to be involved in lots of studies, it also captures something about statisticians that is often missed - that we are also scientists, delighted in the pursuit of new knowledge. I certainly see myself in this quote, seeing lots of science from my perches as panelist, reviewer, collaborator and co-investigator, and frequently finding myself experiencing a child’s wonderment over some cleverness or innovation on display.
Love, love, love. But how does this information reach the eyes and ears of health professionals who bring junk research to the coalface of practice? If only.
Wonderful piece Darren. One of the hardest things for us statisticians to do is to convince a researcher NOT to start a project. We don't win any immediate favors in doing this, but the effort is needed. It helps greatly if you offer as we do a daily walk-in (really zoom-in) clinic where researchers talk to us in the very earliest stages of their research idea formulation. We have in my view done a lot of good at these early stages, sometimes getting the researchers to find better projects.
Love, love, love. But how does this information reach the eyes and ears of health professionals who bring junk research to the coalface of practice? If only.
Excellent post.
"try telling that to a university press office. Tell that to a scientist talking into a journalist's microphone about their most recent publication".
That hits the nail on the head.
You always know how to cheer me up.
Wonderful piece Darren. One of the hardest things for us statisticians to do is to convince a researcher NOT to start a project. We don't win any immediate favors in doing this, but the effort is needed. It helps greatly if you offer as we do a daily walk-in (really zoom-in) clinic where researchers talk to us in the very earliest stages of their research idea formulation. We have in my view done a lot of good at these early stages, sometimes getting the researchers to find better projects.