Naked Statistics Meets Big Data 

Join us on November 20th at Frist Center to meet and hear Charles Wheelan, author of Naked Statistics!

In his new book, Naked Statistics, Charles Wheelen makes sense of big data: data is simply raw fuel; statistics are what we create from it.

Naked Statistics Meets Big Data: Stripping the Dread from the Data

"Data are to statistics what a good offensive line is to a star quarterback." Everyone’s talking about big data. But what we should focus on, instead, is statistics. Data is like a resource—a raw fuel that is abundant, but formless. It’s just there. Statistics are what allow us to turn data into intelligence, into pragmatic action in government, the corporate world, science, innovation, education. Without this interpretive filter, we are left asking bad questions, which leads to bigger bad answers. In this talk, Charles Wheelan turns data on its head, makes it comprehensible, and—with humor and real world examples—shows you how to turn this suddenly “sexy” concept into something actually, and endlessly, useful. His case studies are relatable and resonant: How does Netflix know which movies you’ll like? Why is autism on the rise? How can we catch schools that cheat on standardized testing? How can we become more effective marketers? These are just a handful of examples. He also customizes for various industries, pulling out the newest and most illuminating intelligence. In the end, you’ll come to see how you can exploit the valuable data all around you to solve your thorniest problems. Wheelan’s keynote is witty, fast-moving, and essential—it’s one of the most useful statistics and big data talk you’ll hear. Also, the most fun!