Imagine learning to play chess from nothing but the rules and a diagram, or learning musical composition without sound. Unfortunately, many statistics courses take a very theoretical approach, leading to just this sort of problem. Add to this that most courses also assume a high level of mathematical skill, and it is like trying to learn chess without a board in a foreign language.
We take a different approach, and convert difficult statistical problems into simpler problems of pattern recognition. When interactivity is added, you can manipulate the raw data whilst watching the patterns change. This builds up an intuitive understanding of how statistics works. In effect, statistics is turned into a game - the data game.
Although the tutorial does cover some quite advanced topics, it approaches everything in a basic, commonsense way. Having gained an understanding at this level, you will be able to approach lectures and textbooks much more confidently. Statistics for the Terrified does not replace existing statistics courses, but it is a valuable precursor and accompaniment to them.
Most of what we thoroughly know has been learnt by observation: trial and error. Statistics can't be taught this way within the usual mathematical framework using data sets - the time required (and the number of prepared analyses) would be far too great. Fortunately however, most of us aren't interested in Statistics as an academic discipline. By approaching it as a tool for practical use instead, we can be much more flexible. Mathematical proofs become irrelevant; for example, when learning to ride a bicycle, you don't need to know about angular velocity, frictional forces or gravitational pull - an intuitive understanding of all of them will be impressed on you more or less painfully!
Mathematical proof does not necessarily lead to enlightenment, and much of what we truly understand requires no 'proof' at all, but repeated, varied and directed observation. This can be achieved in statistics teaching by making it into a game, after which it can be at least as interesting as chess and certainly a lot more useful.
Statistics for the Terrified includes a series of challenges and games which you play by changing the data. The data points on our graphs are your chess pieces, which may be moved in any direction. You are guided through a number of scenarios, encouraged to experiment and observe changes in the resulting statistics, finally being challenged to generate particular outcomes. Although you may not understand the statistical processes at first, by the end you will have a clear intuitive grasp. By presenting the data simply and graphically, the software makes the results of your actions clear and easily understood.
With the opportunity to experiment in this way, you become experienced
in recognising patterns and exploring strategies without the risk of messing up a real
experiment. It could take up to a decade to gain this amount of experience in actual research,
during which you might make mistakes that really matter.