Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, Sudan and Somalia … As violent conflicts rage around the world, the March issue of Significance considers the challenges and opportunities for those gathering data on war.
War zones are perilous places for conventional research, yet policymakers faced with making urgent decisions need to trust that the data provided to them is comprehensive and unbiased. That is why we need innovative statisticians and data scientists to devise novel approaches to building data sources that show what is happening in a war and ensuring humanitarian aid meets the right needs, in the right places. This month’s cover feature, for example, describes how mobile photo data can be added to existing data-gathering tools to provide a more accurate picture of internal human displacement in Afghanistan. Authors also consider novel methods of data-gathering and analysis in Gaza and Sudan.
Alone, data cannot prevent conflict. But, without it, inhabitants of the world’s active war zones would be struggling in even deeper darkness.
March Highlights
Gathering data in a war: Our cover feature on how new data sources can help us measure the effects of violent conflict
Fitting a hypothesis too well: What do you do if the data seems too good to be true?
Prussian army deaths by horse kick – the sequel!: A fresh take on the statistics textbook standard
Point win percentage in tennis: How having only a small percentage difference in points can make you a sporting icon
Psychiatric classification: An overview of the historical links between diagnosis and mental health statistics
Enter our 2025 writing competition: Win the Significance Statistical Excellence Award for Early Career Writing
Access the digital version of Significance through the ASA’s membership portal. Print issues are mailed.
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