Box, George E. P. -- “Science and Statistics,” Journal of the American Statistical Association, #356 (Dec 1976)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 19:26:49 +0000

One important idea is that science is a means whereby learning is achieved, not by mere theoretical speculation on the one hand, nor by the undirected accumulation of practical facts on the other, but rather by a motivated iteration between theory and practice.

George E. P. Box (1919-2013) Anglo-American statistician, quality scientist [George Edward Pelham Box]
“Science and Statistics,” Journal of the American Statistical Association, #356 (Dec 1976)
(Source)

Box, George E. P. -- Empirical Model Building and Response Surfaces (1987) [with N. R. Draper]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful.

George E. P. Box (1919-2013) Anglo-American statistician, quality scientist [George Edward Pelham Box]
Empirical Model Building and Response Surfaces (1987) [with N. R. Draper]

As written on p. 424; earlier in the book (p. 74), it is given as: "Remember that all models are wrong; the practical question is how wrong do they have to be to not be useful."

WIST Quotations

Box, George E. P. -- “Science and Statistics,” Journal of the American Statistical Association, #356 (Dec 1976)

Box, George E. P. -- Empirical Model Building and Response Surfaces (1987) [with N. R. Draper]