Principles of Statistical Inference

Statistical theory aims to provide a foundation for studying the collection and interpretation of data that does not depend on the particular details of the substantive field in which the data is being considered. This gives a systematic way to approach new problems, and a common language for summarizing results; ideally the foundations and common language ensure that statistical aspects of one study, or of several studies on closely related phenomena, can in broad terms be understood by the non-specialist. We discuss some principles of statistical inference, to outline how these are, or could be, used to inform the interpretation of results, and to provide a greater degree of coherence for the foundations of statistics.