Students should develop an appreciation for the role of chance and randomness in the world
and for statistical methods and planned experiments as useful scientific tools and as powerful
means for making personal, social, and business-related decisions in the face of uncertainty.
They should realize that the process of statistical inquiry can often lead to better conclusions than
relying on anecdotal data or on their own subjective experiences or intuitions, but that this is not
guaranteed. Students should also learn to adopt a questioning stance when they are faced with an
argument that purports to be based on data (e.g., “all people are...”) or a report of results or
conclusions from a statistical investigation, survey, or empirical research.