Re:What the Next Generation Needs Is Math, Not Programming
by paulojreis on Friday June 12, 2015 @10:25AM
(#9706041)
I think the need already exists. But companies are used to getting by (with huge profits) with engineer-driven products and decisions. The extent to which our technological products and services are engineer-oriented is mesmerizing. Steve Jobs once said something about Apple working at the intersection of technology and liberal arts. It was marketing, of course, but I can't even express how much I agree with this.
Regarding the need for a good grasp of statistics in social scientists, I fully agree. But I think it's something that already exists, up to a point at least. I work in software development with many software engineers around, but I also did a PhD with a strong social sciences background. You would be amazed with how much the guys with psychology backgrounds know about stats and methodology (and how much the common STEM guy doesn't).
Regarding the need for a good grasp of statistics in social scientists, I fully agree. But I think it's something that already exists, up to a point at least. I work in software development with many software engineers around, but I also did a PhD with a strong social sciences background. You would be amazed with how much the guys with psychology backgrounds know about stats and methodology (and how much the common STEM guy doesn't).