American Statistical Association

The American Statistical Association (ASA) is the principal professional organization for statisticians and statistical practitioners in the United States. Established in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 27, 1839, it is one of the oldest continuously operating professional societies in the country. Its membership includes professionals working in government, universities, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, technology, consulting, education, public policy, and other fields where statistical reasoning and data analysis are applied. The association's central purpose is to advance statistical science and its responsible use. It supports research, professional practice, statistical education, publications, conferences, career development, and public understanding of statistics. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand, the ASA functions as a membership institution and professional knowledge network. Its value is delivered through credentials, journals, conferences, standards, advocacy, specialist communities, awards, educational materials, and connections among statisticians and organizations that use statistical evidence. The ASA is organized through geographic chapters, subject-matter sections, and committees. Its chapters represent communities across the United States and Canada, while its sections cover fields and applications within statistics. More than 60 committees support activities involving publications, meetings, education, careers, awards, public policy, professional practice, and other specialist interests. The association is also a member society of the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences. Its publishing program is a major part of its institutional identity. ASA journals include the Journal of the American Statistical Association, The American Statistician, the Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, the Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, Technometrics, Statistics in Biopharmaceutical Research, and other titles serving specialized research and applied communities. The association also publishes or co-publishes online journals and interdisciplinary titles addressing statistical education, public policy, uncertainty quantification, survey methodology, sports analytics, and data science. Member and public-facing periodicals include Amstat News, Chance, and its participation in Significance. These publications connect advanced statistical research with professional practice and wider public discussion. The ASA sponsors or supports major meetings, including the annual Joint Statistical Meetings, the Conference on Statistical Practice, the Spring Research Conference, and numerous specialist and international gatherings. These events provide forums for presenting research, recruiting, professional networking, continuing education, and debate over statistical methods and applications. Professional development is another important activity. Since 2010, the ASA has offered the Accredited Professional Statistician, or PStat, designation to members who satisfy requirements concerning education, experience, professional competence, and continuing development. The Graduate Statistician, or GStat, designation was introduced in 2014 as a preparatory credential for graduate students. The association also recognizes achievement through fellowships, awards, lectureships, and other honors. The ASA has increasingly addressed the social responsibilities of the profession. Its board approved a Justice, Equity, and Diversity and Inclusion code of conduct statement in 2018 and subsequently reviewed and updated it. In 2020, the organization renamed the R. A. Fisher Award and Lectureship as the COPSS Distinguished Achievement Award and Lectureship after discussions concerning Fisher's views on race and eugenics. In 2021, it established a Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Outreach Group. As of 2022, the association reported more than 19,000 members across government, academia, and the private sector.

The American Statistical Association was founded in Boston on November 27, 1839, during a period when American institutions were beginning to develop more systematic approaches to population, economic, governmental, and social information. The association became a durable professional home for people concerned with the collection, interpretation, and presentation of statistical evidence. Its early work reflected the practical importance of improving official statistics and correcting errors in public data. An 1844 memorial concerning the correction of census errors illustrates the association's early interest in the quality and usefulness of governmental statistical information. Over time, the ASA evolved from a relatively focused statistical society into a broad professional organization serving researchers, educators, public agencies, and applied practitioners. Its activities expanded through publications, local chapters, specialist sections, committees, awards, and national meetings. The organization developed a structure capable of representing both the mathematical and applied sides of statistics. Geographic chapters created local communities, while sections provided professional homes for members working in particular methods, industries, or subject areas. Publishing became one of the ASA's most influential long-term activities. Historical publication series included Publications of the American Statistical Association and Quarterly Publications of the American Statistical Association. These efforts developed into a broad portfolio of journals covering statistical theory, computation, business and economics, technology, biopharmaceutical research, education, public policy, survey methods, uncertainty quantification, sports, and data science. The Journal of the American Statistical Association and The American Statistician became especially prominent channels for research and professional discussion. Member periodicals such as Amstat News, along with the more general-interest magazines Chance and Significance, helped communicate statistical ideas beyond specialist research literature. The association also established meetings as a central part of professional life. Its annual Joint Statistical Meetings became a major gathering for statisticians and related professionals, combining research presentations, applied sessions, employment activities, training, and networking. Additional conferences, including the Conference on Statistical Practice and the Spring Research Conference, broadened the opportunities for practitioners and researchers to exchange methods and applications. Through specialist meetings and international connections, the ASA participates in a wider global statistical community while retaining its principal base in the United States. Professional recognition and credentialing became increasingly important. The ASA's fellowship program recognizes members for substantial contributions to the profession, with annual selections made through the Committee on Fellows and subject to a limit tied to the size of the membership. In April 2010, the association introduced the Accredited Professional Statistician designation. PStat applicants are expected to meet requirements involving advanced education, documented professional experience, and evidence of competence, with continuing professional development required for renewal. In April 2014, the ASA added Graduate Statistician status as a preparatory credential for graduate students. In the twenty-first century, the association has addressed questions about ethics, inclusion, and the historical legacy of statistical figures. The Board approved a Justice, Equity, and Diversity and Inclusion code of conduct statement in November 2018 and subsequently reviewed it in 2019, 2021, and 2023. In June 2020, the organization renamed the R. A. Fisher Award and Lectureship after discussions about Fisher's positions on race and eugenics. The ASA established a Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Outreach Group in 2021. These actions reflect an effort to connect professional standards with the social consequences of statistical practice and the composition of the profession. The ASA remains an active membership association serving government, academia, industry, and other users of quantitative evidence. Its contemporary scope combines research publishing, professional meetings, education, accreditation, public communication, career support, and organized communities of practice. The association reported more than 19,000 members in 2022 and continues to operate as a major institutional platform for statistical science in the United States.

• 2022

  Membership exceeds 19,000

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association reported more than 19,000 members across government, academia, and the private sector.

• 2021

  JEDI Outreach Group established

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The ASA established an outreach group focused on justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• 2020

  Fisher award renamed

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The R. A. Fisher Award and Lectureship was renamed the COPSS Distinguished Achievement Award and Lectureship.

• 2018

  JEDI code of conduct approved

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Board approved a Justice, Equity, and Diversity and Inclusion code of conduct statement.

• 2014

  GStat status introduced

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Graduate Statistician designation was introduced as a preparatory accreditation for graduate students.

• 2010

  PStat accreditation introduced

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The ASA began offering Accredited Professional Statistician status to members meeting education, experience, competence, and continuing-development requirements.

• 1888

  Publication series begins

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association's historical publication record includes Publications of the American Statistical Association, issued from 1888 through 1919.

• 1844

  Early census-quality advocacy

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  An early ASA publication called for measures to correct errors in census statistics, illustrating the association's longstanding concern with official data quality.

• 1839

  American Statistical Association is founded

  [1]American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association was established in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 27, 1839.

A member-led, academically grounded professional society that connects statistical research, applied practice, education, public communication, and professional standards. The ASA is positioned as a convening and credentialing institution for the statistics profession rather than as a commercial data or software provider.

• Peer-reviewed journal

  Journal of the American Statistical Association

  A flagship ASA research journal publishing work across statistical theory, methodology, applications, and the interpretation of data. It serves academic statisticians and researchers in disciplines that rely on quantitative inference.

• Professional and research journal

  The American Statistician

  An ASA journal covering statistical practice, methodology, education, communication, and issues relevant to a broad professional readership. It helps connect specialized statistical developments with the wider statistics community.

• Applied statistics journal

  Journal of Business & Economic Statistics

  A journal focused on statistical methods and applications in business, economics, finance, and related quantitative fields. It reflects the ASA's role in supporting statistics used for economic and organizational decision-making.

• Computational statistics journal

  Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics

  A specialist journal addressing computational methods, statistical graphics, visualization, and the interaction between statistical analysis and computing.

• Industrial statistics journal

  Technometrics

  A journal serving industrial statistics and technology-oriented applications, including methods for quality, experimentation, engineering, manufacturing, and technological processes.

• Member magazine

  Amstat News

  The ASA's monthly member publication, reporting on association activities, professional issues, awards, careers, meetings, and stories from statisticians. It also features first-person material such as the My ASA Story series.

• Professional conference

  Joint Statistical Meetings

  The ASA's annual flagship meeting, bringing together researchers, practitioners, educators, students, employers, and users of statistics for technical sessions, applied discussions, career activities, and networking.

• Professional accreditation · 2010

  Accredited Professional Statistician (PStat)

  A professional designation for ASA members who meet requirements concerning advanced quantitative education, at least five years of documented experience, professional competence, and continuing professional development.

• Graduate accreditation · 2014

  Graduate Statistician (GStat)

  A preparatory accreditation intended for graduate students in statistics and related quantitative disciplines. It provides a pathway toward professional recognition before the experience requirements associated with PStat are met.

• 2021

  Creation of the JEDI Outreach GroupStrategy

  Background

  The association sought an organized mechanism for advancing justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in its activities and profession.

  Action taken

  The ASA established the Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Outreach Group.

  Aftermath

  The group became part of the association's outreach and inclusion structure.

  Source

• 2020

  Renaming of the R. A. Fisher Award and LectureshipOther

  Background

  Discussions about Ronald Fisher's views on race and eugenics prompted reconsideration of the award's name.

  Action taken

  The ASA changed the name to the COPSS Distinguished Achievement Award and Lectureship.

  Aftermath

  The renamed award continued to recognize distinguished achievement without retaining Fisher's name.

  Source

• 2018

  Adoption of a JEDI code of conduct statementStrategy

  Background

  The association identified justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as issues relevant to professional conduct and the future of the statistics profession.

  Action taken

  The ASA Board approved a code of conduct statement in 2018 and later reviewed and updated it in 2019, 2021, and 2023.

  Aftermath

  The statement became part of the association's continuing organizational work on inclusion and professional culture.

  Source

1. 1American Statistical Associationen.wikipedia.org