How can I reply to my classmate? This is what my classmate wrote:

How might a working knowledge of how to interpret statistical results specifically benefit a professional practitioner in your field?

I am a certified professional educator and a licensed mental health professional. In both of my fields, all decisions are based on the data.

As an educator we determine student performance based on standardized test results.Our performance as educators is based on the aggregated data from our student's year-to-year and over time (trends).Our schools and districts are graded on the statistical data of all students (total population) and subgroups of students based on demographics like race and income.We also predict how students will perform in later grades based on their English (reading) and Math performance in 3rd grade.Unfortunately, high school graduation rates are predicted by 3rd grade reading proficiency.That seems very young to predetermine the trajectory of a child's academic career but that statistic has stood the test of time.

As a mental health professional, I need to understand statistics to apply theoretical concepts and methodologies to my practice.Reading the literature about interventions and diagnosed mental health conditions informs my practice and improves my service delivery to clients.An understanding of the impact of certain traumas or life events on the healthy functioning or impairment of individuals is crucial to treatment planning and improving client outcomes.