Some Observations on the Teaching of Statistical Consulting

In the past the training of statistical consultants has been largely empirical, consultants having often learned by an apprenticeship type procedure. It is suggested that much of the apprenticeship period involves time taken to learn salient facts about the consultee disciplines, facts which themselves could be imparted more systematically to an aspiring consultant. Accordingly it is suggested that the apprenticeship process could be beneficially complemented by systematized course-wise training in the principles and practices of statistical consulting. Some general and some particularly statistical aspects of consulting are then discussed towards implementing such a program for aspiring consultants in biological research. Amongst the general requirements noted are the ability to work in a team, contributing more than specifically statistical prowess, an understanding of the inductive scientific method and the ability to communicate in the relevant biological disciplines. The more statistical aspects are discussed in relation to the inductive scientific method of biological experimentation under the headings: objectives of the experiment and hypothesis formulation; plan and design; execution of experiments; statistical analyses; interpretation and inferences. Amongst several recommendations made here are that actual participation in experimentation would benefit aspiring consultants and that intensive seminar discussion of sound or video-tape prerecordings of actual consulting sessions would form an excellent component of the supplementary course instruction.