Statistical Inference in the Social Sciences

Summary

The salient points in the debate on inferential statistics instigated by Derrick (1976) are summarized. The application of two techniques of statistical inference to a simple problem in educational research and to a parallel idealized experiment is considered. It is argued that while the techniques lead to valid quantitative results in the case of the latter they do not for the former. Finally some detailed points which have arisen in the course of the debate are discussed.