As the FIFA World Cup 2022 gets into full swing in Qatar, the December issue of Significance sheds statistical light on events on and off the field. We dig into the data behind penalty shootouts and red cards, as well as the numbers behind worker deaths in the country whose human rights record has been so widely criticized. Fear not, those of you who are not soccer fans; this issue also investigates the role of machine learning in protecting vulnerable children, explains how stats can prevent blackouts, and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Statistical Society of Australia, with profiles of four inspiring members past and present.
December Highlights:
Penalty Shootouts: How should managers choose which players take penalties? James Jackson analyzes England’s painful defeat against Italy in the 2020 Euros. Could a more statistically rigorous approach to picking penalty-takers have led to a different result?
Soccer’s “Red Card Myth”: Soccer fans, pundits, and even managers have long debated whether having a player sent off can actually make a team stronger. Matthew Dowsett takes a Neymaresque dive into the data.
Human Rights in Qatar: The human cost of the FIFA World Cup 2022 troubles human rights groups and soccer fans, alike. However, measuring it is extremely difficult due to elusive, vague, and misleading data sources on worker deaths, as Megan Price explains.
Children’s Social Care and Machine Learning: The idea that machine learning can improve children’s social care is attractive, but fraught with challenges. The veil of secrecy around predictive analytics in public services must be lifted, say Michael Sanders and Vicky Clayton.
Energy Forecasting, Part One: We only notice our reliance on energy when our supply is disrupted. Amanda Lenzi and Mihai Anitescu answer six key questions about the role of statistics in energy.
The SSA Is 60: Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Statistical Society of Australia with profiles of four members past and present.
Access the digital version of Significance by logging in to your ASA account. Print issues will be mailed to subscribers soon.
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