Applied statistics laboratory: statistics integrated to society

Abstract

The Laboratory of Applied Statistics is an Extension Project from Statistics Department, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), that originated from a large demand for statistical consulting by UFPR research community as well as other institutions of teaching and research from Curitiba and another cities. Over five years and nine months, approximately, the Laboratory of Applied Statistics have involved the participation of eight professors and more than 50 students, that have done 300 statistical consulting to researchers from different areas. This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative report of the actions performed by the Laboratory of Applied Statistics, highlighting key aspects of university extension such as its impact for society, the production of research with more appropriate results, the contribution to the students' formation by means of the unique experience statistical consulting pratice in several contexts, as well the development of interdisciplinarity, characterized by the variety of sciences associated with requests received by the project. The satisfaction indicators of this project have showed that more 90% of satisfaction for all considered criteria, since the initial appointment until the final results from consulting. Finally, on the basis of experience acquired, we present a recommendation for similar proposals in other universities alerting, however, for a number of difficulties.