Norms of communicative analysis

Analytical tools are hard to learn and use. Yet getting the numbers right is only part of the job for engineers, economists and other quantitative modelers. Bosses, clients, colleagues and members of the public need to understand-and believe-the analytical results, or else the job is not done. Practicing analysts work in a social, communicative context which few academics understand and about which few students learn. This paper introduces the concept of communicative analysis, establishes behavioral norms and suggests a set of heuristics for its performance.