Statistics is a branch of mathematics that deals with the collection,
analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data.
Statisticians collect, verify and interpret data and use the same to
solve problems in a wide variety of fields. The services of a statistician
are required in every field right from government offices to international
sporting events. The job of statistician is not something out of the world,
but something that affects each one of us in
one way or the other. Different areas of statistics are crime statistics,
census statistics, ecological statistics, medical statistics, statistics
on job-seekers, on education, film statistics, cricket statistics, oil
statistics, market statistics, accident statistics, labour statistics,
population statistics, election statistics, district-city-state statistics,
tourism statistics etc. All these areas require the analytical brain and
comprehending ability of a statistician to interpret numerical data and
explain to the common public what the numbers mean and how it can be beneficial
to the common man.
Statisticians make use of various methods like questionnaires, surveys
and diagnostics tests to study real life problems in a broad range of
disciplines like biology, economics, engineering, medicine, physics, sociology
and psychology. They collect data from reliable sources, evaluate it using
scientific methods, make use of statistical tools and present their findings
in the form of graphs, charts, tables etc. On the basis of their findings
they suggest potential applications of the results of their survey and
help to find solutions to the problem at hand.
A wide variety of job opportunities exist for trained statisticians both
in the private as well as government sectors. They may work individually
or as part of interdisciplinary teams. Teaching and research field are
open to candidates with a master's degree and doctorate. While a statistician's
job may appear to be boring and monotonous to an outsider, it is not so.
Some amount of work may require a statistician to work in the comforts
of a proper office environment. However, fieldwork may be required in
some cases and this may involve a lot of traveling for collection of data.
Almost every country in this world has their own statistical agencies
or bureaus. The apex body of the official statistical system in India
is the Department of Statistics in the Ministry of Planning and Programme
Implementation. This department acts as the nodal agency for the planned
development of the country's statistical system. It comprises the Central
Statistical Organisation, the National Sample Survey Organisation etc.
This body also administers the Indian Statistical Institutes - the most
prestigious statistical studies institutes in the country.
