Posted inStatistics
Belief In God Associated With Psychiatric Symptoms
Medicalizing Belief Would you say that a guy who claims he believes in a "just" God suffers from "psychiatric symptoms"? What if we swap "just" for "critical." Do we have…
Posted inStatistics
Two Kinds Of Bad Statistics Caused By Publish & Perish
Two (main) kinds of bad statistics: (1) where they are used to claim what is not true, and (2) where they are used to claim what is true. The second…
Posted inStatistics
Thinking About Dying Or Just Saw Bad Art? Pop A Tylenol, Say Researchers
At last justice! Psychologists are finally admitting that surrealism is painful. Take that starchitects! In your face performance artists! Swallow bitter pills transgressive painters! Actually, swallow Tylenol, because new research…
Posted inStatistics
Scientists Claim Brain Scans Can ID Pre-Criminals
"I'm sorry, sir. We cannot recommend Mr Jones be granted parole," said the man in the impressive white coat, on which was embroidered his name and the awe-inspiring initials "MD".…
Posted inCulture Statistics
The Regnerus Controversy: Children In Traditional Families Do Better Than Those Raised In Non-Traditional Settings
Originally published 24 July 2012. No changes have been made, though I'm sorely tempted to comment on the weeds descending from Regnerus's chin. Doubtless the nastiest phenomenon in nature is…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Correlation And Coincidence
A hastily written entry today, folks. Busy day. Typos at no extra charge. Reader Al Perrella invites us to Jerry Pournelle's Chaos Manner, where a note from our friend Mike…
Posted inStatistics
Science Can Tell If You’re A Racist Just By Looking At You
George Carlin used to advise those who wanted to avoid jury duty to tell the judge, "Don't worry about me, your honor. I can tell guilty people---<snap!>---just like that!" We…
Posted inStatistics
Lightning May Cause Headaches, Moon May Cause Domestic Intranquility
I have discovered a statistically significant correlation between phases of the moon and domestic harmony. Every day for several months I filled out the Domestic Harmony Inventory (DHI), a scientifically…