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

Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business: Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Cleansing, Business Intelligence, Data Validation, Financial Modeling, Productivity Software, Financial Analysis, Automation, Data Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Microsoft
Data Analysis and Visualization with Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Power BI, Data Storytelling, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Power Platform, Data Presentation, Advanced Analytics, Statistical Reporting, Interactive Data Visualization, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
730 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Applied Plotting, Charting & Data Representation in Python
Skills you'll gain: Matplotlib, Plot (Graphics), Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Scientific Visualization, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Statistical Visualization, Graphing, Scatter Plots, Data Manipulation, Histogram, NumPy, Pandas (Python Package)
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
6.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Washington
Machine Learning: Classification
Skills you'll gain: Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Applied Machine Learning, Supervised Learning, Predictive Modeling, Text Mining, Machine Learning Algorithms, Feature Engineering, Data Cleansing, Scalability, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Real Time Data, Probability & Statistics, Algorithms
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.7K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: AI skills
DeepLearning.AI
DeepLearning.AI Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Google Sheets, Data Presentation, Spreadsheet Software, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Tableau Software, Web Scraping, Data Visualization, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Descriptive Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Statistics, Statistical Modeling, SQL, Databases, JSON
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
43 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
PwC
Problem Solving with Excel
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Data Cleansing, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Validation, Complex Problem Solving, Statistical Analysis, Financial Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Illinois Tech
Statistical Learning
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Statistical Machine Learning, Statistical Methods, Statistical Modeling, Regression Analysis, Machine Learning, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Inference, Supervised Learning, Predictive Modeling, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Unsupervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Dimensionality Reduction
Build toward a degree
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Basic Statistics in Python (Correlations and T-tests)
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Box Plots, Correlation Analysis, Data Visualization, Scatter Plots, Data Cleansing, Statistical Visualization, Data Manipulation, Pandas (Python Package), Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Python Programming
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
33 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
DeepLearning.AI
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Image Analysis, Deep Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Applied Machine Learning, Data Ethics, Machine Learning, Computer Graphics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.3K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
University of Colorado Boulder
Statistics and Applied Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Visualization, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, Statistical Analysis, Regression Analysis, Statistical Programming, Probability, Probability Distribution, Sampling (Statistics), Box Plots, Histogram, R Programming, Statistical Methods, Scatter Plots, Microsoft Excel, Probability & Statistics, Statistics, Data Import/Export
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
31 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Java, Algorithms, Program Development, Programming Principles, Statistical Analysis, Software Design, Computer Programming, Data Import/Export, Integrated Development Environments, Data Processing, Software Documentation, Data Manipulation, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Analysis, Development Environment
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Exploring and Producing Data for Business Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Statistical Inference, Data Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Analytical Skills, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Data Presentation, Decision Making
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months