Description: In the period 1850-1940 statistics developed as a new combination of theory and practice. This development of statistics is closely interlinked with the process of moderniation of society and with rapid progress in the sciences. This was not always a smooth process. The increasing influence of the statistical approach sometimes evoked strong opposition on the part of government, business, and science, and gave rise to lively debates, which are discussed by the 27 contributors to this volume.
