Posted inCulture
Are Tests Biased Against Students Who Don’t Care?
The Onion reports on a shocking new statistical study. Warning: some foul language. If the stream doesn't work, click the link below the video window. In The Know: Are Tests…
Posted inPhilosophy
Shermer Tries, And Fails, To Take Down Chopra
Aurora last night masked by clouds. Saw plenty of bats. Here is a review of another article you might like to read. Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, tried to…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Lesson Somethingorother: Against the P-value
I've lost count of the lesson numbers. The definition of a p-value, here phrased in the incorrectly named "test of difference in means", is: Given the truth of a probability…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Lesson Two Again and Again: Logic is Not Opinion
Everybody: thanks for the emails. I do see them. I'll be answering all on the weekend. Would it surprise you to learn that to graduate with a degree in statistics---BS,…
Posted inCulture
Life Isn’t Fair: Galarraga’s Imperfectly Perfect Game
The decks are awash: the tears have already reached the scuppers, and there's no sign of abatement. The output from the perpetually lachrymose has been prodigious. Even people who aren't…
Posted inCulture
Sex, Race, Uncertainty, Climate, and More! Saturday Links.
A Saturday collection of fun and interesting stories sent in by readers. Larger Breasts Pay Off for Waitresses Reader Katie sent in this breaking news: a professor from Cornell's Hotel…
Posted inCulture
Cornell University to Offer Degree in News Anchor Hairdo Studies
Ezra Cornell, a generous man concerned deeply about his country and its culture, when he created his eponymous university in 1868 said, "I would found an institution where any person…
Posted inStatistics
Calculating the Uncertainty of Economic and Other Forecasts
I was asked to talk about how to handle uncertainty in forecasts. Below is a rough sketch. Many of you run or work with models that produce forecasts, guesses of…