The history of statistics. The measurement of uncertainty before 1900. (English) Zbl 0656.62005

Stigler, Stephen M.

Cambridge, Mass. - London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. XVI, 410 p. (Gö: 87A 6934) (1986).

Contents:
Part one: The development of mathematical statistics in astronomy and geodesy before 1827. 1. Least squares and the combination of observations. 2. Probabilists and the measurement of uncertainty. 3. Inverse probability. 4. The Gauß-Laplace synthesis.
Part two: The struggle to extend a calculus of probabilities to the social sciences. 5. Quetelet’s two attempts. 6. Attempts to revive the binomial. 7. Psychophysics as a counterpoint.
Part three: A breakthrough in studies of heredity. 8. The English breakthrough: Galton. 9. The next generation: Edgeworth. 10. Pearson and Yule.
Appendix A. Syllabus for Edgeworth’s 1885 lectures. Appendix B. Syllabus for Edgeworth’s 1892 newmarch lectures.

MSC:

62-03	History of statistics
62-02	Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to statistics
01A55	History of mathematics in the 19th century

Keywords:

Quetelet; astronomy; geodesy; Least squares; measurement of uncertainty; Inverse probability; Gauß; Laplace; social sciences; Psychophysics; studies of heredity; Galton; Edgeworth; Pearson; Yule