ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the theory of statistical inference, or at least about a considerable part of it. To explain the meaning of the term 'statistical inference', let us start with what an encyclopedia says about it. The book deals with the first stage only, except for brief comments on the other aspects. When people wish to move on to applications of statistical methods to real problems, important and difficult problems arise, as they have to face the task of matching the two worlds of formal deduction and empirical evidence; this is the field of applied statistics. The theory of statistical inference is about general principles and criteria which motivate certain mathematical constructs, in particular methods which can be used to tackle problems arising in the real world.
