AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL STATISTICS AND ITS METHODS

The roots of statistics are concealed far away in ancient times. Although hidden with many unknowns and uncertainties one may see bright and impressive moments even in the farthest history. In its development social statistics has left deep marks on the whole statistics and human knowledge in general. One may see clear links with philosophy, logic, sociology, economics, politics, natural and engineering sciences, etc. The problems of social statistics have pushed forward the development of its methodology too with the incorporation with mathematics, mathematical modeling, and rationalizing its inductive method and its position in human comprehension of reality. This has provided a significant impetus for the development of the ideas about randomness and probabilities. There are many great names associated with the social statistics that made remarkable contribution for the development of civilization. Particularly rapid is the expansion of social statistics in twentieth century which makes very difficult if not senseless the question of its perimeter and frontiers. Simultaneously however definite tendencies could be noticed and it is anticipated in this study to outline some future developments of social statistics.