New Zealand Statistical Association Newsletter 66
September 2007
Editorial - Geoff Jones
Like
quite a few other people, apparently, I’ve been thinking about foundational
issues recently. The big schism for statisticians is, of course, between
the Bayesians and frequentists, but there are others taxing my brain at
the moment, such as the one between design-based and model-based estimation
in survey analysis. This clash of paradigms is particularly evident in
small-area estimation, and caused a few rumpuses at a conference on survey
methodology that I attended last year.
One often comes across people who have a strong belief in something, or a great love of something, and who insist on expressing that belief, or that love, through an unconditional hatred of something else. Whether it be Western Values, or p-values, I don’t think it's the way to go.
Personally I’m still striving for that great overview that will encompass all these apparently conflicting points of view. There’s a danger of course of becoming like the man who “grew so broad-minded he was scatter-brained”, but it seems to me that the other extreme is far worse.
I’m not saying that foundational issues are unimportant. I think it’s right and proper that these matters are raised at conferences, and it’s both fun and educational to watch the two sides fighting it out. But the least we can try to do is to remember that the person on the other side of the fence is probably not an idiot, or a charlatan. However much it might seem like it.
As usual I'd like to thank all those who have contributed articles and photographs. In addition to the usual sections and snippets of news from or about the statistical community, we have reports of the very successful NZSA and John Deely Conferences in Christchurch. A more extensive collection of photographs from these events will be available here in the online version of the newsletter.
My favourite quote from the conference was given to
me by Ron Christensen, quoting a colleague of his: “I don't like
to do research, but I like to understand things”. I’m looking
forward to trying this out on the next PBRF panel!
Geoff Jones
Geoff
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A warm welcome to 19 new members of the NZSA who have joined since February 2007, taking our current membership to 401.
Regular members: GuanYu Zheng, Alan Bentley, Olivia
Son,Rudi van der Mescht, Emma Mawby, Murthy Mittinty, Lisa Henley, Maik
Wagner, Nathaniel Pihama, Antony Kennedy, Walter Davis, Angela Forbes,
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Student members: Yihong Zhang, Arier Lee, Andrew Gormley, Andrew Richens,
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The NZSA was the recipient of a very generous donation ($48,000) from Professor Campbell’s estate.
There is roughly $1500 funding available each year for special projects that are in the realm of Professor Campbell’s interests. Refer to http://nzsa.rsnz.org/funding.shtml for more details.
The fund has now grown to over $59,000 with accumulated interest since 2001.
Applications are received twice a year (April/October) and are invited for funding for projects in 2007/08. There is no formal application process but please supply details of your project, the full project budget, the amount you are requesting, a short statement about why your project is within Professor Campbell’s interests, and your full contact details.
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Jennifer Brown
Submissions to the Newsletter
The Newsletter welcomes any submissions of interest to members of the New Zealand Statistical Association. News about New Zealand statisticians, statistical meetings, statistical organisations, statistics in education, or statistical curiosities are suitable for inclusion. Letters that raise issues of importance to statistics in New Zealand are also welcomed. Photographs of recent gatherings and new appointees are of particular interest. Electronic submissions are preferred and you may use this link.
Next deadline 22 February 2008.
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The Newsletter accepts advertising of interest to statisticians in New Zealand. Advertising is placed subject to space considerations. Personal advertising by NZSA members will be published free. Other advertising is $250 per page, $140 per half page, and $75 per quarter page. Other sizes can be quoted on request. All advertising requests should be directed to the editor.
Editor
Geoff Jones
IIS&T Massey University
Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Phone: 06 350 5779; Fax: 06 350 2261
Email:
g.jones@massey.ac.nz
