Words and Numbers : For a sociology of the statistical argument

Abstract

The paper analyzes in what sense the quantification and statistical algorithms performer contribute to the social world. It starts from the idea that statistics is at the same time, a test tool but also a tool of government that sets the pace and coordinates many social activities and provides guidance to public action. These two aspects are addressed in a coordinated way, to historicize and sociologize examining the technical aspects of statistical tools and their uses argumentative. Through various historical examples, drawn from the author's previous research, shows that the history and methods and statistical formalisms is mixed in complex ways with the history of the objects that are placed on the agenda for public policy in the within which are co-constructed. While it is not present a complete model of relations between methods and statistical algorithms, and social issues argued by these instruments, suggests the relevance of statistical tools unlock, open the black boxes without so relativize historicized.