title: Statistical Inference: The Big Picture.
abstract: Statistics has moved beyond the frequentist-Bayesian controversies of the past. Where does this leave our ability to interpret results? I suggest that a philosophy compatible with statistical practice, labelled here statistical pragmatism, serves as a foundation for inference. Statistical pragmatism is inclusive and emphasizes the assumptions that connect statistical models with observed data. I argue that introductory courses often mis-characterize the process of statistical inference and I propose an alternative "big picture" depiction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, and Machine Learning Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kass