Since launching StackOverflow.com as a Q&A forum for programmers, the StackExchange network is now launching about three new sites a week on topics as specialized as cooking, jobs, and many many more. There’s a well-defined, community-oriented process for setting up a new site: first it must be proposed, and then enough potential users must commit to the site and define its mission with sample questions. Finally, with enough committed users it enters a beta phase before being formally launched.

A new site devoted to questions about Statistics has completed the proposal and definition phases, is about to enter the beta phase. A typical question, voted as an example of the type of question appropriate to the site, is:

Can you give an example of where I might prefer to use a z-test vs a t-test?

The more people that participate in the beta and support a thriving ecosystem of questions and answers, the more likely it is that the Statistics StackExchange will be a reality. You can’t ask or answer questions at the site just yet, but you can commit to be a participant in the site and you’ll receive an invitation to the beta test. If you’re interested, follow the link below and click the “commit” button.

Update: The private beta has now started, so if you hadn’t already committed, you’ll have to wait until the public beta starts at noon Pacific time on Monday, July 26.

StackExchange Area 51: Statistics