Seymour Geisser
Encyclopedia
Seymour Geisser was a statistician
noted for emphasizing the role of prediction in statistical inference
– see predictive inference
. In his book Predictive Inference: An Introduction, he held that conventional statistical inference about unobservable population parameters amounts to inference about things that do not exist, following the work of Bruno de Finetti
. He also pioneered the theory of cross-validation.
He testified as an expert on interpretation of DNA
evidence in more than 100 civil and criminal trials. He held that prosecutors often relied on flawed statistical models. On that topic, he wrote "Statistics, Litigation and Conduct Unbecoming" in the book Statistical Science in the Courtroom, edited by Joe Gastwirth (Springer Verlag, 2000).
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in 1955 under Harold Hotelling
. In 1971, he founded the School of Statistics at the University of Minnesota
, of which he was the Director for more than 30 years.
Geisser was also the principal editor of several books of papers by multiple authors.
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
noted for emphasizing the role of prediction in statistical inference
Statistical inference
In statistics, statistical inference is the process of drawing conclusions from data that are subject to random variation, for example, observational errors or sampling variation...
– see predictive inference
Predictive inference
Predictive inference is an approach to statistical inference that emphasizes the prediction of future observations based on past observations.Initially, predictive inference was based on observable parameters and it was the main purpose of studying probability, but it fell out of favor in the 20th...
. In his book Predictive Inference: An Introduction, he held that conventional statistical inference about unobservable population parameters amounts to inference about things that do not exist, following the work of Bruno de Finetti
Bruno de Finetti
Bruno de Finetti was an Italian probabilist, statistician and actuary, noted for the "operational subjective" conception of probability...
. He also pioneered the theory of cross-validation.
He testified as an expert on interpretation of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
evidence in more than 100 civil and criminal trials. He held that prosecutors often relied on flawed statistical models. On that topic, he wrote "Statistics, Litigation and Conduct Unbecoming" in the book Statistical Science in the Courtroom, edited by Joe Gastwirth (Springer Verlag, 2000).
Biography
He was born in New York City. He earned his Ph.D.Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1955 under Harold Hotelling
Harold Hotelling
Harold Hotelling was a mathematical statistician and an influential economic theorist.He was Associate Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University from 1927 until 1931, a member of the faculty of Columbia University from 1931 until 1946, and a Professor of Mathematical Statistics at the...
. In 1971, he founded the School of Statistics at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, of which he was the Director for more than 30 years.
Books
- Modes of Parametric Statistical Inference, Wiley, 2006
Geisser was also the principal editor of several books of papers by multiple authors.
Obituary
- Donald A. Berry (2005) Seymour Geisser, 1929–2004, Journal of the Royal Statistical SocietyJournal of the Royal Statistical SocietyThe Journal of the Royal Statistical Society is a series of three peer-reviewed statistics journals published by Blackwell Publishing for the London-based Royal Statistical Society.- History :...
Series A, Volume 168 Pp. 245-6.