Abstract
THE rapid spread of the use of statistical methods in science, industry, commerce and administration in the last decade has created a new professional class of statisticians. The Royal Statistical Society itself has been alive to this development and has done much to promote a recognition of the status of the statistacian in the Civil Service and in business ; but by tradition and constitution it is primarily a learned Society, and there has been growing evidence of a desire among practising statisticians for a professional body similar to the existing Associations of Actuaries, Accountants and Secretaries. A newly formed Association of Incorporated Statisticians, limited by guarantee, is intended to meet this need. The objects of the Association are to provide professional qualifications for statisticians, to encourage the provision of training facilities and to further and protect the interests of its members. Membership is divided into two classes, fellowship and associateship, and there is also to be a class of registered statistical assistants with privileges of membership other than voting rights. Normally, admission to fellowship or associate-ship is to be by examination, coupled with evidence of substantial experience of statistical work ; certain exemptions are to be permitted where persons already possess qualifications and experience, but the object is to limit such exceptions so as to make membership of the Association evidence of a proper standard of competence. The syllabus of the examinations of the Association, which are to be in two stages, intermediate and final, are very similar to those laid down by the Royal Statistical Society for the award of its certificate and diploma, but there is rather more emphasis on statistical administration ; for example, one paper in the final examination is on “the organisation and equipment of a statistical department". The president of the Council of the Association is Lord Beveridge and the vice-president is Dr. Bernard Dudding. The honorary secretary is Mr. S. Harris, and the registered office is at 54 New Broad Street, London, E.C.2.
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A Professional Association for Statisticians. Nature 164, 605–606 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/164605d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/164605d0