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 Pennsylvania
Business and Financial Modeling
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Financial Statements, Probability Distribution, Mathematical Modeling, Statistical Modeling, Portfolio Management, Regression Analysis, Business Modeling, Financial Modeling, Strategic Decision-Making, Data Presentation, Risk Management, Decision Making, Data Visualization, Microsoft PowerPoint, Predictive Modeling, Investment Management, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Spreadsheet Software, Google Sheets
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Genomic Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Unix Commands, Biostatistics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Unix Shell, Unix, Data Science, Data Management, Statistical Methods, Command-Line Interface, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Science and Research, Statistical Modeling, Data Structures, Data Analysis, R Programming, Computational Thinking, Statistical Programming, Jupyter
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
6.6K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Presentation, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, SQL, Generative AI, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Big Data, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Excel Formulas, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
91K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
University of Amsterdam
Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences
Skills you'll gain: Qualitative Research, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Scientific Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Inference, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Software, Probability Distribution, Research, Correlation Analysis, Research Design, Sampling (Statistics), Research Reports, Science and Research, Probability, Interviewing Skills, Data Analysis, Sample Size Determination, Statistical Methods, Social Sciences
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
DeepLearning.AI
Applied Statistics for Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Statistics, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Visualization, Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Histogram, Probability, Probability Distribution, Correlation Analysis, Statistical Inference, Sampling (Statistics), Analytical Skills, Microsoft Excel, Generative AI
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Shiny (R Package), Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Regression Analysis, Leaflet (Software), Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Statistical Inference, Predictive Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Visualization, Plotly, Machine Learning Algorithms, Interactive Data Visualization, Probability & Statistics, Knitr
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
51K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Business Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Return On Investment, Operational Efficiency, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Finance, Human Capital, Go To Market Strategy, Process Analysis, Branding, People Management, Financial Reporting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Accounting, Financial Modeling, Consumer Behaviour, Leadership and Management, Marketing Planning, Peer Review, Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
26K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 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
University of Michigan
Applied Data Science with Python
Skills you'll gain: Matplotlib, Network Analysis, Feature Engineering, Plot (Graphics), Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Pandas (Python Package), Applied Machine Learning, Supervised Learning, Text Mining, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Network Model, Jupyter, NumPy, Graph Theory, Data Manipulation, Natural Language Processing, Data Analysis, Data Processing, Unstructured Data
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
34K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science: Foundations using R
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Data Visualization, Statistical Programming, Ggplot2, Dimensionality Reduction, Data Visualization Software, Data Integration, Knitr, Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, General Science and Research, Data Sharing, Statistical Reporting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
48K reviews
Beginner · 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