Statistics – Page 4 – William M. Briggs

Classical Statistics Has Outlived Its Usefulness: Here’s The Fix

A PDF of this article may be downloaded here. This article is a precis of Uncertainty. Opening Act Patient walks into the doctor and says, "Doc, I saw that new…

Philosophy Statistics

A Twist In A Solution To Newcomb’s Paradox

Let's take a break from the insanity and wade into cool waters to start the weekend. I'll take it that you've watched this video, which purports to give a solution…

Philosophy Statistics

All Of The Supposed Paradoxes About The Principle Of Indifference Are Bogus

Here is an example of a supposed paradox caused by using Keyne's Principle of Indifference, which Stove and others (and myself) call the Statistical Syllogism (itself deduced from the symmetry…

Philosophy Statistics

Forget Randomization

I am only six months behind in answering thoughtful emails from readers. Here is one from Stephen Puryear: Dr. Briggs, please go back and elaborate on your ideas about why…

Philosophy Statistics

Subjective Probability Is Objective

Because certain forms of Bayesian probability, particularly so-called subjective probability, are being taken up in quantum mechanics, it's well to understand just what subjective probability is, if it's anything, and…

Philosophy Statistics

What Are P-Values?

Contributor William Raynor sets us a task: Hi Matt, ...I'd still like to see if you can write a column about what an empirical p-value really is without mentioning the…

Philosophy Statistics

Are Chance Or Randomness Real After All?

From reader Nick L comes this question (in which I hope I have properly rendered the Greek): I am still regularly enjoying your blog. I notice one of your consistent…

Philosophy Statistics

Researcher In AI Responds To Criticisms

I received this thoughtful, and may I say highly accurate, email from reader EN, which I include in full below. I removed the age and name to protect EN's identity.…

Cary Cotterman on Do Dogs Poop In Alignment With The Earth’s Magnetic Field?September 3, 2026
More than seventy years of experience with dog ownership has made the fact clear to me that dogs squat pointing…
Uncle Mike on Do Dogs Poop In Alignment With The Earth’s Magnetic Field?September 3, 2026
The afterstory: three of the authors are now university presidents, and one is head of NSA.
shawn marshall on Do Dogs Poop In Alignment With The Earth’s Magnetic Field?September 3, 2026
for sure you have identified a scienterrific study full of dog poop
Brian (bulaoren) on Do Dogs Poop In Alignment With The Earth’s Magnetic Field?September 3, 2026
Well, a lot of current research product orients toward the left.
McChuck on Do Dogs Poop In Alignment With The Earth’s Magnetic Field?September 3, 2026
Perhaps the dogs prefer not to stare into the morning and evening sun? How does one measure the "calmness" of…