Case Studies in Data Analysis

This volume is a collection of eight Case Studies in Data Analysis that appeared in various issues of the Canadian Journal of Statistics (OS) over a twelve year period from 1982 to 1993. One follow-up article to Case Study No.4 is also included in the volume. The OS's Section on Case Studies in Data Analysis was initiated by a former editor who wanted to increase the analytical content of the journal. We were asked to become Section Co-Editors and to develop a format for the case studies. Each case study presents analyses of a real data set by two or more analysts or teams of analysts working independently in a simulated consulting context. The section aimed at demonstrating the process of statistical analysis and the possible diversity of approaches and conclusions. For each case study, the Co-Editors found a set of real Canadian data, posed what they thought was an interesting statistical problem, and recruited analysts working in Canada who were willing to tackle it. The published case studies describe the data and the problem, and present and discuss the analysts' solutions. For some case studies, the providers of the data were invited to contribute their own analysis.