This is a list of important publications in statistics, organized by field.
Some reasons why a particular publication might be regarded as important:
- Topic creator – A publication that created a new topic
- Breakthrough – A publication that changed scientific knowledge significantly
- Introduction – A publication that is a good introduction or survey of a topic
- Influence – A publication which has significantly influenced the world
- Latest and greatest – The current most advanced result in a topic
The Doctrine of Chances
- Author: Abraham de Moivre
- Publication data: 1738 (2nd ed.)
- Online version: ?
- Description: The book introduced the concept of normal distributions as approximations to binomial distributions. In effect, de Moivre proved a weak version of the central limit theorem. Sometimes his result is called the theorem of de Moivre-Laplace.
- Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
An Essay Toward Solving a Problem in the Doctrine of Chances
- Author: Thomas Bayes
- Publication data: 1764
- Online version: [1] (http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/maths/histstat/essay.ps) (PostScript file); [2] (http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/maths/histstat/essay.pdf) (PDF file)
- Description: In this paper Bayes addresses the problem of using a sequence of identical "trials" to determine the per-trial probability of "success" — the so-called inverse probability problem. It later inspired the theorem that bears his name (Bayes' theorem). See also Pierre Simon de Laplace.
- Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
