Bayesian Statistics

This chapter explores an alternative interpretation of statistics—Bayesian statistics—and the methods associated with this interpretation. In contrast to the frequentist statistics used in Chapter 13 and Chapter 14 , Bayesian statistics treats probability as a degree of belief rather than as a measure of the proportions of observed outcomes. This different point of view gives rise to distinct statistical methods we can use in problem-solving. While it is generally true that statistical problems can, in principle, be solved using either frequentist or Bayesian statistics, practical differences make these two approaches to statistics suitable for different types of problems.