Fiducial inference is one of a number of different types of
statistical inference. These are rules, intended for general application, by which conclusions can be drawn from
samples of data. In modern statistical practice, attempts to work with fiducial inference have fallen out of fashion in favour of
frequentist inference,
Bayesian inference and
decision theory. However, fiducial inference is important in the
history of statistics since its development led to the parallel development of concepts and tools in
theoretical statistics that are widely used. Some current research in statistical methodology is either explicitly linked to fiducial inference or is closely connected to it.