STATISTICS AS A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE (Statystyka zrodlem wiedzy (Referat wygloszony na zjezdzie wroclawskiego oddzialu PTS))

This paper addresses the problem of social roots of statistics, and particularly it highlights its role in transforming data into knowledge. Statistics is the only tool enabling effective move from the welfare state to the welfare society. Following the Gurria's call for a new generation of statistics, the main ways for the development of this new statistics are also discussed. The problem how to meet new social needs rising in information societies or societies based on knowledge is also briefly discussed.