Dr. Louis Lyons (Oxford, UK)

Date: Mar. 22, 2009

Title: Bayes versus Frequentism - the return of an old controversy

Abstract: 

The Bayes and Frequentist methods for determining parameters and for
various other statistical procedures are based on very different
philosophies. This colloquium explains the differences in these
approaches, with examples both from Physics and from every-day
life. One situation in which they can give different results is the
extraction of upper limits when a sought-for signal is not seen. The
Feldman-Cousins approach to this problem is discussed. Finally a
summary is presented, contrasting these approaches.