Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
On True And False Theories
What makes a theory true? Bad question, that. Conflates too easily why a theory is true with our knowledge whether a theory is true. Both are subjects of great interest,…
Posted inStatistics
When We Abandon Statistical Significance, Non-Statisticians Will Resist The Strongest
Regular readers will know the arguments and evidence proving P-values should no longer be used for any reason. If you still doubt, which I doubt, read this paper. Every decision…
Posted inStatistics
Deep Dumb: A Map For Navigating Needless Panic
I found it rather comforting to learn Professor Jem Bendell, among his other achievements, has an "honors" Bachelor of Arts. He boasts of this, and therefore it must be important,…
Posted inStatistics
Theoretical Basis Of Sampling: Reader Question
From Ernst: I was wondering if you could help me as a layman grasp a problem I'm wrestling with. Say I have a large tray and pour a gallon of…
Posted inCulture Statistics
More Asinine Global Warming Research — Introducing ‘Climate Liar’
This is a follow-up to yesterday's post. None of these "studies" merits a full-scale analysis, but they are silly enough to warrant a moment or two of your attention. Item…
Posted inStatistics
How To Do Predictive Statistics: Part X: Verification 1
We are finally at the most crucial part of the modeling process: proving if the damned thing works. Not "works" in the sense that we get good unobservable parameter estimates,…
Posted inCulture
Reactionary Movie: When Worlds Collide
Quite a while back there were calls asking for recommendations of reactionary movies. Besides The Caine Mutiny (which I have to review formally) and Logan's Run, the next one that…
Posted inStatistics
Another Proof Statistics Cannot Discover Cause
We discussed this before, but since it has come up recently in personal discussions, I wanted to offer this clarification. Suppose we're in a standard epidemiological situation, or even a…