Data bombards us in everyday life.
Advertisements often claim that data show the superiority of the advertiser's product.
All sides in public debates about economics, education, and social policy argue from data. Yet the usefulness of statistics goes far beyond these everyday examples. The study and collection of data are important in the work of many professions, so that training in the science of statistics is valuable preparation for a variety of careers. Each month, for example, government statistical offices release the latest numerical information on unemployment and inflation. Economists and financial advisors as well as policy makers in government and business study these data to make informed decisions.