What is statistical inference?

Statistical inference is the process whereby you can draw conclusions about a population based on random samples of that population and the statistics that you draw from those samples. When you rely on statistical inference, you take what you've observed about your samples of that population and apply them to the group as a whole. Applying statistical inference allows you to take what you know about the population as well as what's uncertain to make statements about the entire population based on your analysis.

Why is it important to learn about statistical inference?

If you want to learn about a certain population—whether they're customers or fellow employees—you can use statistical inference to draw conclusions about that population based on your analysis of data about them. You can't always survey or test an entire population to gain insight, but you can sample the population and make educated assumptions based on the data. Understanding statistical inference allows you to take that data and use it to draw conclusions that make sense and prove true.

How can I apply statistical inference in my career?

Statistical inference has plenty of benefits for different business sectors. Statisticians and data analysts use this method often to draw conclusions based on samples of populations. If you're in sales or product development, you can use statistical inference to determine which brands or products are popular with your customers or clients. Scientists use statistical inference to test hypotheses and draw conclusions when it's impossible for them to test or sample an entire population. You can apply statistical inference to analyze the data from surveys of any population that you sample.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn about statistical inference?

Online courses on Coursera give you both a grasp of the concepts of statistical inference and practical applications. You'll learn from the best instructors in the academic world, and you can learn at a pace and schedule that best suits your schedule and lifestyle. When you finish our courses, you'll know how to use statistical inference in your career, which will give you an advantage whether you're trying to get better at your current job or whether you're looking to make a career change.

What are the benefits of taking an online Statistical Inference course?

Online Statistical Inference courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Statistical Inference skills. Choose from a wide range of Statistical Inference courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Statistical Inference courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Statistical Inference, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Statistical Inference Courses - Learn Statistical Inference Online

Explore the Statistical Inference Course Catalog

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Managerial Economics and Business Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Supply And Demand, Market Dynamics, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Inference, Business Analytics, Bank Regulations, Financial Systems, Financial Policy, Banking, Probability Distribution, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Regression Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Methods, Economics, Financial Market, Business Economics
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
DeepLearning.AI
Probability & Statistics for Machine Learning & Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Probability & Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Probability, Statistical Inference, A/B Testing, Statistical Analysis, Data Science, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Analysis, Statistical Visualization
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
548 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
Applied Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Data Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Data Manipulation, Seaborn, Data Import/Export, Predictive Modeling, Web Scraping, Interactive Data Visualization, Statistical Analysis, Automation, Python Programming
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
58K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Michigan
Introduction to Data Science in Python
Skills you'll gain: Pandas (Python Package), Jupyter, NumPy, Data Manipulation, Data Science, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Cleansing, Data Import/Export, Probability & Statistics, Python Programming, Programming Principles
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
27K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Google
Process Data from Dirty to Clean
Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Sampling (Statistics), Data Integrity, Data Quality, Data Validation, Data Analysis, Data Processing, Data Manipulation, SQL, Data Transformation, Spreadsheet Software
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Summary Statistics in Public Health
Skills you'll gain: Biostatistics, Histogram, Box Plots, Statistical Visualization, Medical Science and Research, Quantitative Research, Descriptive Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Research Design, Statistical Methods, Probability Distribution, Science and Research, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Inference, Analysis, Sample Size Determination
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science: Statistics and Machine Learning
Skills you'll gain: Shiny (R Package), Rmarkdown, Regression Analysis, Leaflet (Software), Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Inference, Predictive Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Plotly, Machine Learning Algorithms, Interactive Data Visualization, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Machine Learning, Feature Engineering, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Probability, Correlation Analysis, Data Science, Data Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
7.2K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
SAS
SAS Statistical Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Predictive Modeling, Predictive Analytics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Analysis, SAS (Software), Correlation Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Regression Analysis, Statistical Methods, Probability & Statistics, Plot (Graphics), Data Analysis, Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
216 reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Google
Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study
Skills you'll gain: Interviewing Skills, Data Analysis, Data Processing, Analytical Skills, Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, R Programming, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Storytelling, Project Documentation, Presentations, Portfolio Management, Communication
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
IBM Data Management
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Warehousing, SQL, Data Presentation, Data Governance, Data Security, Data Migration, Data Visualization, Interactive Data Visualization, Descriptive Statistics, Data Mining, Cloud Storage, Data Visualization Software, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Management, MySQL, Relational Databases, Excel Formulas
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
16K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
University of Virginia Darden School Foundation
IBM & Darden Digital Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking, Digital Transformation, Business Strategy, Cloud Computing Architecture, Competitive Analysis, Cloud Services, Business Transformation, Cloud Security, Cloud Infrastructure, Big Data, Cloud Platforms, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Apache Hadoop, Product Lifecycle Management, Business Technologies
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
44K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
IBM Data Analytics with Excel and R
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, Shiny (R Package), Data Wrangling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Relational Databases, Big Data, Ggplot2, Database Design, Data Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Data Mining, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, Microsoft Excel
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
28K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months