What is statistical inference?

Statistical inference is the process whereby you can draw conclusions about a population based on random samples of that population and the statistics that you draw from those samples. When you rely on statistical inference, you take what you've observed about your samples of that population and apply them to the group as a whole. Applying statistical inference allows you to take what you know about the population as well as what's uncertain to make statements about the entire population based on your analysis.

Why is it important to learn about statistical inference?

If you want to learn about a certain population—whether they're customers or fellow employees—you can use statistical inference to draw conclusions about that population based on your analysis of data about them. You can't always survey or test an entire population to gain insight, but you can sample the population and make educated assumptions based on the data. Understanding statistical inference allows you to take that data and use it to draw conclusions that make sense and prove true.

How can I apply statistical inference in my career?

Statistical inference has plenty of benefits for different business sectors. Statisticians and data analysts use this method often to draw conclusions based on samples of populations. If you're in sales or product development, you can use statistical inference to determine which brands or products are popular with your customers or clients. Scientists use statistical inference to test hypotheses and draw conclusions when it's impossible for them to test or sample an entire population. You can apply statistical inference to analyze the data from surveys of any population that you sample.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn about statistical inference?

Online courses on Coursera give you both a grasp of the concepts of statistical inference and practical applications. You'll learn from the best instructors in the academic world, and you can learn at a pace and schedule that best suits your schedule and lifestyle. When you finish our courses, you'll know how to use statistical inference in your career, which will give you an advantage whether you're trying to get better at your current job or whether you're looking to make a career change.

What are the benefits of taking an online Statistical Inference course?

Online Statistical Inference courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Statistical Inference skills. Choose from a wide range of Statistical Inference courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Statistical Inference courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Statistical Inference, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Statistical Inference Courses - Learn Statistical Inference Online

Explore the Statistical Inference Course Catalog

University of California, Davis
Market Research
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Survey Creation, Focus Group, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, Market Research, Proposal Writing, Data Storytelling, Business Research, Statistical Analysis, Presentations, Discussion Facilitation, Marketing Analytics, Storytelling, Marketing, Research Methodologies, Marketing Strategies, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Market Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Microsoft
Data Analysis and Visualization with Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Power BI, Data Storytelling, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Power Platform, Data Presentation, Advanced Analytics, Statistical Reporting, Interactive Data Visualization, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
681 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Imperial College London
Epidemiology for Public Health
Skills you'll gain: Epidemiology, Clinical Trials, Research Design, Clinical Research, Preventative Care, Biostatistics, Research Methodologies, Program Evaluation, Health Assessment, Scientific Methods, Medical Science and Research, Risk Analysis, Research, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Understanding Data: Navigating Statistics, Science, and AI
Skills you'll gain: Histogram, Generative AI, Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Scientific Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Data Storytelling, Statistics, Data Analysis, Data Ethics, Experimentation, Science and Research, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Research Design, Analytical Skills, Research, Exploratory Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, OpenAI
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Mindware: Critical Thinking for the Information Age
Skills you'll gain: Deductive Reasoning, Analytical Skills, Experimentation, Critical Thinking, Cost Benefit Analysis, Research Design, Behavioral Economics, Decision Making, Predictive Analytics, Regression Analysis, Scientific Methods, Correlation Analysis, Risk Mitigation, Adaptability
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Toronto
Plant Bioinformatic Methods
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Network Analysis, Data Mining, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Synthesis, Big Data, Data Visualization Software, Technical Communication, Scientific Visualization, Life Sciences, Science and Research, Taxonomy, Databases, Data Collection
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Rice University
Finance for Non-Finance Professionals
Skills you'll gain: Capital Budgeting, Cash Flows, Financial Analysis, Finance, Business Valuation, Return On Investment, Financial Management, Corporate Finance, Financial Modeling, Investments, Financial Market, Risk Management, Equities
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
SAS
Data Literacy: Exploring and Visualizing Data
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Storytelling, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Visualization, Data Presentation, SAS (Software), Trend Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Analysis, Data Quality, Data Cleansing, Analytics, Interactive Data Visualization, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Technical Communication, Data Ethics, Data Visualization Software, Research, Analytical Skills, Investigation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
University of Amsterdam
Quantitative Methods
Skills you'll gain: Scientific Methods, Research Design, Sampling (Statistics), Science and Research, Research Methodologies, Quantitative Research, Data Collection, Social Sciences, Survey Creation, Experimentation, Ethical Standards And Conduct
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Vanderbilt University
Data Management for Clinical Research
Skills you'll gain: Clinical Data Management, Data Capture, Clinical Research, Data Management, Data Collection, Data Sharing, Data Strategy, Data Quality, Sampling (Statistics), Data Storage, Regulatory Compliance
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Probability Theory: Foundation for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Probability, Probability Distribution, Statistics, Bayesian Statistics, Data Science, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Inference, Descriptive Statistics
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
247 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
From Data to Insights with Google Cloud
Skills you'll gain: Looker (Software), Dashboard, SQL, Data Transformation, Big Data, Google Cloud Platform, Applied Machine Learning, Data Cleansing, Machine Learning, Data Infrastructure, Data Presentation, Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Data Import/Export, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Data Analysis, Data Access, Analytics, Data Warehousing, Database Architecture and Administration
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months