9.100 Statistics and scientific objectivity The president of the American Statistical Association stated, “Statistics has become the modern-day enforcer of scientific objectivity.

Terms like randomization, blinding, and 0.05 significance wield a no-doubt effective objectivity nightstick.” He also discussed how learning what effects aren’t in the data is as important as learning what effects are significant.

In this vein, explain how statistics provides an objective framework for testing the claims of what many believe to be quack science, such as astrology and therapeutic touch where practitioners claim to improve medical conditions by using their hands to manipulate the human energy field.

(Source: Bradley Efron, Amstat News, July 2004, p. 3.)