Disciplining Statistics

Demography and Vital Statistics in France and England, 1830-1885

Autor: Libby Schweber

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Editura: Duke University Press

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In "Disciplining Statistics" Libby Schweber compares the science of population statistics in England...

Informații despre carte

Autor

Libby Schweber

Limbă

engleză

Legare

Carte - Copertă tare

Publicat

2006

Pagini

288

EAN

9780822338253

ISBN

0822338254

Enbook ID

04938402

Editura

Duke University Press

Greutate

532

Dimensiuni

243 x 159 x 29

Descriere completă

In "Disciplining Statistics" Libby Schweber compares the science of population statistics in England and France during the nineteenth century, demonstrating radical differences in the interpretation and use of statistical knowledge. Through a comparison of vital statistics and demography, Schweber describes how the English government embraced statistics, using probabilistic interpretations of statistical data to analyze issues related to poverty and public health. The French were far less enthusiastic. Political and scientific elites in France struggled with the 'reality' of statistical populations, wrestling with concerns about the accuracy of figures that aggregated heterogeneous groups such as the rich and poor and rejecting probabilistic interpretations.Tracing the introduction and promotion of vital statistics and demography, Schweber identifies the institutional conditions that account for the contrasting styles of reasoning. She shows that the different reactions to statistics stemmed from different criteria for what counted as scientific knowledge.The French wanted certain knowledge, a one-to-one correspondence between observations and numbers. The English adopted an instrumental approach, using the numbers to influence public opinion and evaluate and justify legislation. Schweber highlights numerous attempts by vital statisticians and demographers to have their work recognized as legitimate scientific pursuits. While the British scientists had greater access to government policymakers, and were able to influence policy in a way that their French counterparts were not, ultimately neither the vital statisticians nor the demographers were able to institutionalize their endeavours. By 1885, both fields had been superseded by new forms of knowledge. "Disciplining Statistics" highlights the effects of interrelated epistemological, political, and institutional considerations on the development of 'scientific' knowledge.

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Disciplining Statistics

Demography and Vital Statistics in France and England, 1830-1885

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