Bootstrap: More than a Stab in the Dark?

A critical review is given of recent research activity on bootstrap and related procedures. Theoretical work has shown the bootstrap approach to be a potentially powerful addition to the statistician's toolkit. We consider its impact on statistical practice and argue that, measured against the hopes raised by theoretical advances, this has been until now fairly modest. We suggest that while this state of affairs is a consequence to be expected of the sophisticated character of the bootstrap procedures required to cope reliably in many of the settings of most interest, much theoretical work is not serving the immediate needs of statistical practice. Emerging lines of research are reviewed and important future research directions suggested. In particular, we appeal for greater focussing of research activity on practicalities.