当今时代见证了数据收集量的爆炸性增长，人们已经意识到这些海量数据集（大数据”）是宝贵信息的存储库，这些信息不仅可用于研究目的，还可用于直接应用并做出明智的决策。从大数据中提取有用部分并对其内容进行分析和解释，需要数学和计算机科学某些领域的技能和知识，尤其是机器学习，数据挖掘和统计领域。除了是利用大数据的重要组成部分之外，统计专业知识在几乎所有科学组织，大型商业企业和政府机构中也至关重要。通过统计技术分析和理解数据的大小的能力对于确保得出的结论和做出的决定是基于有效的经验证据至关重要。
Today's era has witnessed an explosive growth in the amount of data collected, and there has been a realization that these massive data sets (big data) are reservoirs of valuable information that can be used not only for research purposes but also for direct applications and for sound decision-making. The extraction of the useful parts from big data and the analysis and interpretation of its contents require skills and knowledge in certain areas of the mathematical and computer sciences, specifically in machine learning, data mining - and statistics.<br><br>Apart from being a vital component in exploiting big data, statistical expertise is also essential in virtually all scientific organizations, large business enterprises and government agencies. The ability to analyze and make sense of data, big or small, by means of statistical techniques is critical in ensuring that the conclusions reached and the decisions made are based on valid empirical evidence.