Robert Santos
Director
U.S. Census Bureau
Academia is great about creating curricula that prepare aspiring scientists, analysts, and researchers for the technical challenges needed for a successful career. Analytic tools can be complex, and they take time to learn well. But sometimes, the most important tool one needs is not that of a method, but of a process. Naturally, critical thinking is best when used at all stages of the research process. It is particularly helpful at the beginning, when the research questions are being developed. Yet all too often, statistical and data analytic expertise is brought in “when needed.” Sometimes, we are consulted at the beginning to determine how large of a case count is needed. Other times, we are brought in at the end to perform analyses that may or may not align with the study’s objectives. In other cases, we are called upon mid-study, often to resolve issues and restore scientific rigor to the analysis. This talk will leverage a few stories from my career to illustrate the scientific value of utilizing perhaps the most important tool anyone can bring to a research study: their brain – i.e., critical thinking combined with their “whole selves” (values, cultures, life, and work experiences, etc.) to offer unique perspectives and contributions to just about any scientific endeavor.