What is statistical inference?

Statistical inference is the process whereby you can draw conclusions about a population based on random samples of that population and the statistics that you draw from those samples. When you rely on statistical inference, you take what you've observed about your samples of that population and apply them to the group as a whole. Applying statistical inference allows you to take what you know about the population as well as what's uncertain to make statements about the entire population based on your analysis.

Why is it important to learn about statistical inference?

If you want to learn about a certain population—whether they're customers or fellow employees—you can use statistical inference to draw conclusions about that population based on your analysis of data about them. You can't always survey or test an entire population to gain insight, but you can sample the population and make educated assumptions based on the data. Understanding statistical inference allows you to take that data and use it to draw conclusions that make sense and prove true.

How can I apply statistical inference in my career?

Statistical inference has plenty of benefits for different business sectors. Statisticians and data analysts use this method often to draw conclusions based on samples of populations. If you're in sales or product development, you can use statistical inference to determine which brands or products are popular with your customers or clients. Scientists use statistical inference to test hypotheses and draw conclusions when it's impossible for them to test or sample an entire population. You can apply statistical inference to analyze the data from surveys of any population that you sample.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn about statistical inference?

Online courses on Coursera give you both a grasp of the concepts of statistical inference and practical applications. You'll learn from the best instructors in the academic world, and you can learn at a pace and schedule that best suits your schedule and lifestyle. When you finish our courses, you'll know how to use statistical inference in your career, which will give you an advantage whether you're trying to get better at your current job or whether you're looking to make a career change.

What are the benefits of taking an online Statistical Inference course?

Online Statistical Inference courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Statistical Inference skills. Choose from a wide range of Statistical Inference courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Statistical Inference courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Statistical Inference, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Statistical Inference Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Statistical Inference Course Catalog

Status: New
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Foundations of Probability and Statistics
Skills you'll gain: Probability, Statistical Inference, Markov Model, Estimation, Statistical Methods, Probability & Statistics, Statistics, Probability Distribution, Data Literacy, Statistical Analysis, Sampling (Statistics), Bayesian Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Statistical Modeling, Data Science, Theoretical Computer Science, Machine Learning Algorithms, Generative AI Agents, Artificial Intelligence
Build toward a degree
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
310 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Statistical Inference
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Inference, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Probability & Statistics, Probability, Statistics, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Methods, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Probability Distribution, Sampling (Statistics), Sample Size Determination, Data Analysis
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
4.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Data Science Foundations: Statistical Inference
Skills you'll gain: Probability, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Inference, Statistical Methods, Probability & Statistics, Statistics, Probability Distribution, Data Literacy, Sampling (Statistics), Bayesian Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Data Ethics, Statistical Analysis, Quantitative Research, Data Science, Theoretical Computer Science, Data Analysis, Sample Size Determination, Descriptive Statistics, Artificial Intelligence
Build toward a degree
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
326 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Preview
Northeastern University
Engineering Probability and Statistics Part 1
Skills you'll gain: Probability & Statistics, Probability Distribution, Probability, Statistical Modeling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Bayesian Statistics, Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Statistical Visualization, Correlation Analysis, Reliability
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Inferential Statistics
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Inference, Statistical Reporting, R (Software), Statistical Methods, Statistics, R Programming, Statistical Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Data Analysis, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Software Installation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Statistics with Python
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Modeling, Statistical Methods, Statistical Inference, Bayesian Statistics, Data Visualization, Statistics, Matplotlib, Statistical Visualization, Statistical Software, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Jupyter, Statistical Programming, Regression Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Predictive Modeling, Data Analysis, Python Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

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Status: Preview
Stanford University
Introduction to Statistics
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Statistics, Statistical Methods, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Regression Analysis, Statistical Inference, Probability, Exploratory Data Analysis, Quantitative Research, Probability Distribution
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Advanced Statistics for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Sampling (Statistics), Regression Analysis, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Inference, Statistical Methods, Statistical Modeling, Linear Algebra, Probability, R Programming, Biostatistics, Data Science, Statistics, Probability Distribution, Mathematical Modeling, Data Analysis, Applied Mathematics, Predictive Modeling
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
773 reviews
Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
Bayesian Statistics
Skills you'll gain: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Bayesian Statistics, R Programming, Forecasting, Statistical Inference, Statistical Modeling, Technical Communication, Data Presentation, Statistics, Probability, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Software, Advanced Analytics, R (Software), Data Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Markov Model, Statistical Methods, Data Science
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Eindhoven University of Technology
Improving your statistical inferences
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Inference, Scientific Methods, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Quantitative Research, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Sample Size Determination, Research, R Programming, Data Sharing
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
799 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
University of Leeds
Statistical Methods
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Statistical Modeling, R (Software), Data Collection, Statistical Inference, Probability, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Probability Distribution, Simulations, Statistical Visualization, Descriptive Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Data Visualization Software
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science: Statistics and Machine Learning
Skills you'll gain: Shiny (R Package), Rmarkdown, Regression Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Inference, Predictive Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Machine Learning Algorithms, Plotly, Interactive Data Visualization, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Machine Learning, Data Presentation, Data Visualization, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Modeling, R Programming, Data Science, Machine Learning, GitHub
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
7.2K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months