Posted inFun Statistics
The Converted Statistician
While doing some research, my number one son found this item from Punch, Vol. 146, January 28, 1914. THE CONVERTED STATISTICIAN. A sudden jolt as we thundered over some points…
Posted inStatistics
Every Family Has Children Until They Have A Boy: Probability Stumper
Reader Bryan Davies quoted a poser from Math Overflow (have we heard of that?) which read: In a country in which people only want boys every family continues to have…
Posted inFun Philosophy
What Do You Call Believer in Scientism? Contest
Toby Young at the Spectator ran this tweet yesterday: https://twitter.com/toadmeister/status/402545969956261888 The text (if you can't see) reads: "Is there a name for people who think reason and research evidence alone…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Observational Versus Controlled Trials
Received this email from a reader: I took on board all I read on your website, and it has created confusion in my mind. I have been reading Ioannidis and…
Posted inStatistics
We’re 88% Through The International Year Of Statistics
I hadn't any idea we'd even started. But thanks to reader Dan Hughes and his link to the Wall Street Journal story Odds Lot: Statisticians Party Like It's 2.013 x…
Posted inStatistics
Nonstatisticians Often Screw Up Statistics
Title stolen from article of same name by Leland Teschler in the trade journal Machine Design. Update Statisticians often screw up statistics, too. See below. The article is the result…
Posted inStatistics
Johnson’s Revised Standards For Statistical Evidence
Thanks to the many readers who sent me Johnson's paper, which is here (pdf). Those who haven't will want to read "Everything Wrong With P-values Under One Roof", the material…
Posted inFun
Briggs Exposes His Better Side
These are the pants I wore yesterday through airports, airplanes, taxis, and the streets of San Francisco, thus exposing my better side to roughly half the country. Notice that the…