Ken,
> > As I read it, you were not asking whether doctoral students in design needed these other disciplines. Rather, I thought you were asking whether all students in all disciplines need statistics.
You interpreted it as I meant it.
> > While I’m not sure that all students in all fields need statistics, I think that there is a reasonable answer with respect to statistics in the PhD curriculum for design.
I suspect that you’re right almost all of the time but I think there is room for a design PhD paralleling the list I suggested and its extension. David didn’t suggest that the person he was quoting meant all *design* PhD programs when he said *all* PhD programs.
> > People who may not need to use statistics in their own work may need to know *about* statistical problems and statistical inference to serve as skilled doctoral advisors for others.
I think that all students (including undergraduates) should get some training in statistics—not how to do stats but how to understand them. I see that as a skill of being a citizen.
Yes. Statistical research exist in a lot of fields even where statistics isn’t central. I think every student should be aware enough to know that they need to know more or rely on someone who does. I suspect that we could come up with a list much longer than one item but recognizing statistical bullshit is very important.
I’ve long thought that journalism schools should have at least one class in understanding statistical claims and communicating numbers. I can’t tell you how often I’ve read a statement in a newspaper article and wondered what it was actually supposed to be saying. In most cases, I’ve concluded that the writer didn’t think about what was actually being said. In many cases, I’d bet that the writer was just plagiarizing a press release.
One would have to have a large design program to have a statistician on staff. One would have to have a small university to not have one in another department.
Gunnar
c: +1 252 258-7006
h: +1 252 754-1980
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