Seminal Ideas and Controversies in Statistics

Statistics has developed as a field through seminal ideas and fascinating controversies. This book concerns a wide-ranging set of 13 important statistical topics, grouped into three general areas.

“Little’s book was a lot of fun. When the ideas are taken together close in time, it broadens one’s perspective, which may not happen if the papers are read discretely. For me, Little’s through-line is that statistical inference is a toolkit of interconnected ideas that work reliably only when tied to design, modelling assumptions and calibration…I feel that the seminal works are not museum pieces but remain living guidance for modern statistical practice. This reaching back for solid ground feels timely for practising statisticians and scientists, with the foundation of epistemology under attack from many directions, including the proponents of artificial intelligence. I would appreciate more books like it.”
~ Luke R. Lloyd-Jones, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Statistics

“Little's thought-provoking book brings the debates about 15 important statistical concepts to life through reflections on key journal articles…Little based this book on a doctoral-student seminar he developed at the University of Michigan to enhance students' understanding about fundamental concepts of statistics. While the book is ideal for such a class, it is also a tremendous resource for teachers of statistics who want to deepen their knowledge and make the subject come alive for their students… Seminal Ideas and Controversies in Statistics is not an easy read, but it is a rewarding one. In my opinion, every student and teacher of statistics should read this book. It will give you a new perspective on concepts that you may have taken for granted, and a renewed appreciation for the remarkable contributions that statisticians have made.”
~Sharon L. Lohr, Arizona State University, USA; published in the Journal of Applied Statistics, Dec 2025

Roderick J. A. Little is Richard D. Remington Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, where he also holds emeritus appointments in the Department of Statistics and the Institute for Social Research. After secondary school at Glasgow Academy, he received a B.A. in Mathematics from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University, and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Statistics from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London University. Professor Little is a pioneer and thought leader in the fields of statistical analysis with missing data, Bayesian inference in sample surveys and causal inference. He has received some of the highest honors in statistics and science, including being elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.