Biometrika

Biometrika is a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of theoretical statistics.

History

Biometrika was founded in 1901 by Francis Galton, Karl Pearson and Walter Weldon. The name was chosen by Pearson, but Edgeworth insisted that it was spelled with "k" and not with "c". The journal was first on biostatistics, statistical analysis of biological phenomena, aligned, and in the early days, the biologist Charles Davenport and Raymond Pearl were involved. 1930 Biometrika was a journal for statistical theory and methodology.

While Galton's role in the Journal was more that of a conveyor, it has been actively pursued by Pearson and Weldon. After Weldon's death in 1906 Pearson was the sole editor until his death in 1936. Upon his death his son Egon Pearson became the new editor and it also remained until his death in 1966. Then was David Cox, the editor for the next 25 years. This Biometrika had in its first 65 years, only three and in the first 90 years, only four publishers.

The first issue contained a clear goal:

It is Intended did Biometrika Shall serve as a Means not only of collecting or publishing under one title biological data of a kind not systematically collected or published elsewhere in any other periodical, that is but of spreading a knowledge of seeking statistical theory as ' may be requisite for Their scientific treatment.

The journal should focus on five themes:

  • Item to variation, heredity and selection in animals and plants, based on the examination of a large number of objects
  • Changes of the useful for the analysis of biological problems statistical theory
  • Numerical tables and graphs to simplify statistical calculations
  • Summaries of articles on these topics, which were published in other journals
  • Short articles on current biometric work and unsolved problems.

During the first issues contained many articles on biological topics, the focus shifted later on statistics: "journal of statistics in Which emphasis is Placed on papers Containing original theoretical Contributions of direct or potential value in applications". Of the five subjects formulated thus remained only the second and third, but usually detached from its biological roots. To the centenary of Karl Pearson JBS Haldane wrote about him, he was like Columbus, who went to China, but discovered America. The same can be said about his journal.

For the centenary of the journal an anniversary band with articles of special editions and a selection of classic articles from the years 1939-71 was created.

Indexing

Biometrika is indexed in Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews, CAB Abstracts, Current Contents / Agriculture, Biology, and Environmental Sciences, Current Contents / Life Sciences, Current Contents / Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences, Current Index to Statistics, Journal Citation Reports / Science Edition, Mathematical Reviews, ProQuest, research Papers in Economics, Science Citation Index and Zentralblatt MATH.

David Cox (statistician)
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