The actualities of statistics are not monolithic

Abstract

The recent controversy over statistical data analyses sheds a light on a number of cases of abuse of statistical procedures. In this essay some practical aspects of statistical analyses, mainly in agricultural research, are discussed. During the past century eminent researchers, including K. Pearson, R. A. Fisher, J. Neyman, and E. S. Pearson, have established the theoretical basis of modern mathematical statistics, e.g., experimental design, sampling distributions, and hypothesis testing. Some users in psychology, agronomy, etc. might be liable to commit misconduct in statistical analysis. Of course while they are responsible for what they have done, they must understand not only the proper use of statistical methodology but also the characteristic of each science.