An Introduction to the theory of statistics

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1751730271

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-127610

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Yule, George Udny http://d-nb.info/gnd/12910504X

Title:: An Introduction to the theory of statistics

Edition:: 8. ed. rev

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Griffin

Year of publication:: 1927

Scope:: XV, 422 S; Ill., Diagr

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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THEORY OF STATISTICS. INTRODUCTION. 1-3. The introduction of the terms *‘ statistics,” statistical,” into the English language—4-6. The change in meaning of these terms during the nineteenth century—7-9. The present use of the terms—10. Defini- tions of ¢ statistics,” ‘¢ statistical methods,” ‘‘ theory of statistics,” in accordance with present usage. 1. THE words “statist,” “statistics,” ¢ statistical,” appear to be all derived, more or less indirectly, from the Latin status, in the sense that it acquired in medieval Latin of a political state. 2. The first term is, however, of much earlier date than the two others. The word “statist” is found, for instance, in Hamlet (1602),! Cymbeline (1610 or 1611),2 and in Paradise Regained (1671).3 The earliest occurrence of the word “statistics” yet noted is in Zhe Elements of Universal Erudition, by Baron J. F. von Bielfeld, translated by W. Hooper, M.D. (3 vols., London, 1770). One of its chapters is entitled Statistics, and contains a definition of the subject as “The science that teaches us what is the politi- cal arrangement of all the modern states of the known world.” 4 “Statistics” occurs again with a rather wider definition in the preface to A Political Survey of the Present State of Europe, by E. A. W. Zimmermann,’ issued in 1787. “It is about forty years ago,” says Zimmermann, “that that branch of political knowledge, which has for its object the actual and relative power of the several modern states, the power arising from their natural advantages, the industry and civilisation of their inhabit ants, and the wisdom of their governments, has been formed, chiefly by German writers, into a separate science. . . . By the more con- venient form it has now received . . . . this science, distinguished by the new-coined name of statistics, is become a favourite study in Germany” (p. ii) ; and the adjective is also given (p. v), “To the several articles contained in this work, some respectable 1 Act v., sc. 2. 2 Actii., sc. 4. 3 Bk. iv. $I cite from Dr W. F. Willcox, Quarterly Publications of the American Statistical Association, vol. xiv., 1914, p. 287. 5 Zimmermann’s work appears to have been written in English, though he was a German, Professor of Natural Philosophy at Brunswick.

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