Exercises in Statistical Reasoning

Students cultivate learning techniques in school that emphasize procedural problem solving and rote memorization. This leads to efficient problem solving for familiar problems. However, conducting novel research is an exercise in creative problem solving that is at odds with a procedural approach; it requires thinking deeply about the topic and crafting solutions to unique problems. It is not easy to move from a topic-based, carefully curated curriculum to the daunting world of independent research, where solutions are unknown and may not even exist. In developing this book, we considered our experiences as graduate students that faced this transition._x000d_
Exercises in Statistical Reasoning is a collection of exercises designed to strengthen creative problem-solving skills. The exercises are designed to encourage readers to understand the key points of a problem while seeking knowledge, rather than separating out these two activities. To complete the exercises, readers may need to reference the literature, which is how research-based knowledge is often acquired._x000d_
Features of the Exercises_x000d_
The exercises are self-contained, though several build upon concepts from previous problems._x000d_
Each exercise opens with a brief introduction that emphasizes the relevance of the content. Then, the problem statement is presented as a series of intermediate questions.