Logic is the study of reasoning; epistemology is the study of how we know things; and cosmology is the interface of science and philosophy. The whole purpose of statistics is to make an expository presentation—to demonstrate something. If you take it with that old sense of the word rhetorical, that’s the kind of critical thinking that is at the heart of statistics. It’s very seldom explicated…usually tacit, rather than explicit.

It wouldn’t be fair to say that Art was a late bloomer, but once he started to bloom he just didn’t stop. Some of his current and recent projects include:

• The National Academy of Science panel on improvised explosive devices;
• The American Psychological Associations task force on the psychological consequences of counter-terrorism efforts; and
• The NATO conference on the Social and Psychological Genesis of Terrorism.

We decided to begin the interview sitting in a comfortable lounge area of his home in which there were a number of exercise machines. “I see you’re into exercise,” I said. “Well, I need to watch a little more television,” he replied. Seeing the blank look on my face, he explained, “I only watch television while walking on the treadmill or riding my exercise bike.”

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are--e.e. cummings said that.

King Douglas: Describe and explain your interest, ability and skill in SPSS.

Art Kendall: I’ve used a lot of different packages on a lot of different platforms. SPSS seems to have the best human factors in terms of, for example, cognitive consistency in the way it’s done. It really helps you get a lot done a lot more quickly. I look at statistical packages as a tool rather than an end in themselves. My experience is that 90% of the work is getting the data ready, and that’s where SPSS really shines.