A Breakthrough Of Statistics In The Field Of Heredity In Nineteenth Century

Before 1880s,because of the inability to control the experimental design and experimental conditions,the statistical method based on probability theory has not been widely used.Since 1880s,however,a number of scholars have expanded the field of application of statistics from the field of astronomy to the field of heredity and sociology,so the rapid development of statistical methods based on probability had realized.Contribute to this regard several scholars are Galton,Edgeworth,Karl Pearson and Yule.They realize the statistical breakthrough progress in correlation and regression.This not only provides a new method for statistical research,but also become the opportunity for the development of statistics during the first half of twentieth Century.In this paper,depend on the influence of Laplace's theory of probability on the nineteenth Century,describing the application and breakthrough of statistics in the field of heredity.Chapter two,firstly introduce the Laplace's work in probability,especially the effect generated by the Laplace probability on the nineteenth century,including the widespread popularity of Laplace's thought of probability and the extension of the application of probability.Secondly,introduce the application of Laplace's theory of probability for Quetelet,the fitting and application of normal distribution.Chapter three,inspects the course of the history of the theory of correlation and regression that Galton had found in heredity research.Explain the hereditary phenomenon that height or other traits obey normal distribution by quincunx,the regression phenomenon that offspring traits to the parent through sweet pea experiment.Finally,Galton proposed the concept of "index of correlation" to describe the close relation between the two variables in his paper.Chapter four,the paper focuses on the contribution of Edgeworth to the correlation and regression theory.On the one hand,Edgeworth got rid of the practical background Galton focused on,treated as an independent elements,becoming a purely mathematical definition,and giving a matrix form for the density function of pluralism;on the other hand,he proposed "correlation coefficient" in his paper for the first time,and gave the formula for sample correlation coefficient.Chapter five,introduces the Pearson,Yule's promotions for the correlation and regression theory:Pearson researched on how the sample correlation coefficient estimated correlation coefficient of population,he and Fisher have disagreements and misunderstandings about this problem;Yule used the least square method for the first time gave the mathematical expressions for partial correlation coefficients,contacted the correlation and regression theory with the least square method,provides a useful tool for the application of multiple correlation and regression methods.