Upon Assuming the Presidency of the Behaviormetric Society of Japan
Yutaka Kano
I am honored to have been appointed the 10th President of the Behaviormetric Society of Japan. Reflecting on the founding of our society by the late Professor Tomio Hayashi, our first president, and inheriting the achievements of my predecessor Professor Masaomi Ueno in managing the society, I will do my utmost to further develop our organization. I sincerely ask for the kind cooperation of all members.
The society’s website states: “Behaviormetrics focuses on behavioral phenomena across various disciplines and values the entire series of processes shown in the figure on the right. Through these processes, it aims to elucidate the mechanisms that govern human behavior, build knowledge about human beings, and contribute to the discovery and solution of problems across society, economy, culture, and technology.”
In recent years, the term “data science” has become widespread, and the typical problem-solving process in data science is often described as PPDAC. This aligns remarkably well with our society’s goal of “understanding the mechanisms of human behavior and phenomena.” PPDAC stands for Problem–Plan–Data–Analysis–Conclusion, and if I recall correctly, it was originally introduced as a problem-solving framework in New Zealand’s school education. Behind it, of course, lies the well-known PDCA cycle (Plan–Do–Check–Action) used in quality control.
Although “understanding human behavior and phenomena” and PPDAC were likely proposed independently, in the end, empirical problem-solving processes seem to converge on similar ideas. Our society is characterized by its emphasis on the entire process, rather than focusing narrowly on, for example, statistical techniques. Moreover, in terms of application areas, it covers many fields of research where empirical methods play a vital role. In both of these respects, I believe our society is a well-balanced organization.
Another hallmark of the Behaviormetric Society of Japan is its long tradition of actively sharing information with statistical users. Tutorials at the annual meeting and the residential seminars held every March are good examples. Although these events charge a fee, they consistently attract many participants. Each time, appropriate themes are chosen and effectively publicized, ensuring their success. I would like to express my deep respect for the efforts of everyone involved.
For the society to continue developing, it is natural to build on these distinctive strengths. The 20th century was said to be an era of specialization and deepening of research fields, while the 21st century is called an era of integration. Could we not contribute to the meaningful exchange of information and the creation of synergies among the various research fields related to our society, all under the banner of behaviormetrics—or as a “cross-cutting thread”?
Furthermore, the term “statistical users,” I believe, derives from Professor Tomio Kinoshita’s theory of “statistical users and makers” (Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University, who twice served as chair of the annual meeting). Perhaps there should be more of a flow from statistical users toward makers—that is, more communication from users to makers about “what is needed now.”
Another important point is how we respond to big data, AI, and machine learning. I do not regard AI and machine learning as mere extensions of statistics or behaviormetrics. Rather, I understand that the main objects of study differ. AI and machine learning tend to deal with “cool” data, whereas behaviormetrics deals mainly with “warm,” human-centered data. When behaviormetricians examine data, we contemplate the many factors behind it, seeing data as indicators of human behavior and states of mind, and we model and analyze it accordingly. That said, I am not claiming that AI and machine learning are unrelated to behaviormetrics. The 21st century is an era of integration. If behaviormetrics can incorporate the distinctive features of AI and machine learning, we may open up new horizons.
Before long, the Behaviormetric Society of Japan will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Let us all work together to contribute to its continued growth.