Related to communication or explanation of statistical data, analyses, or concepts
6
votes
2answers
121 views
How could I visualise the importance of different inputs to the forecast for a black-box non-linear model?
I am building an interactive forecast tool (in python) as an aid to forecasting that is done in my organisation. To date the forecast process has been largely human driven, with forecasters ...
8
votes
5answers
248 views
Representing experimental data
I have an argument with my advisor over data visualization.
He claims that when representing experimental results, the values should be plotted with "markers" only, as presented in the image bellow. ...
8
votes
3answers
710 views
Number of significant digits to report
Is there a more scientific way of determining the number of significant digits to report for a mean or a confidence interval in a situation which is fairly standard - e.g. first year class at college.
...
1
vote
3answers
87 views
How to communicate “very negative” parameter estimate in paper?
I'm currently writing a thesis and I have to interpret a coefficient estimate that's extremely negative compared to what I hypothesized.
How do I best communicate this? Describing it as ...
22
votes
8answers
697 views
Are there any good popular science book about statistics or machine learning?
There a bunch of really good popular science books around, that deal with real science, as well as the history and reasons behind current theories, while remaining extremely enjoyable to read. For ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
How to present results of a Lasso using glmnet?
I would like to find predictors for a continuous dependent variable out of a set of 30 independent variables. I am using Lasso regression as implemented in the glmnet package in R. Here is some dummy ...
5
votes
2answers
134 views
Risk assesment and non-statistician's perception of percentages
I'm planning on doing quantile regression for estimating pain relief after hip surgery. My aim is to construct for my patients information in this format:
4 out of 5 patients experience with your ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
How would you explain generalized linear models to people with no statistical background?
I always have a hard time explaining statistical techniques to audience with no statistical background. If I wanted to explain what GLM is to such audience (without throwing out statistical jargon), ...
8
votes
2answers
294 views
How best to communicate uncertainty?
A massive problem in communicating the results of statistical calculations to the media and to the public is how we communicate uncertainty. Certainly most mass media seems to like a hard and fast ...
3
votes
3answers
379 views
Politically correct way of ordering stacked barplots?
What is the politically correct way of ordering stacked barplots that contain gender statistics? For example, in a stacked barplot for the number of grantees of a fellowship program, should one put ...
58
votes
6answers
3k views
Explaining to laypeople why bootstrapping works
I recently used bootstrapping to estimate confidence intervals for a project. Someone who doesn't know much about statistics recently asked me to explain why bootstrapping works, i.e., why is it that ...
5
votes
1answer
158 views
How to help people understand “…per 100,000”?
It's well known that members of the public have difficulty comprehending numbers over a certain size. A common tricky issue for people communicating demographic trends is helping people make sense of ...
28
votes
14answers
2k views
Most confusing statistical terms
We statisticians use many words in ways that are slightly different from the way everyone else uses them. This cause lots of problems when we teach or explain what we are doing. I'll start a list ...
3
votes
6answers
360 views
What is a good tool and format for representing and communicating the design content of a survey?
Are there any decent tools for writing/designing questionnaires before providing to programmers? Currently Microsoft Word is being used and tracking changes and keeping it standardized has become a ...
4
votes
4answers
482 views
Is it “rows by columns” or “columns by rows”?
I've got a data table like:
ID Low Color Med Color High Color
1 234 123 324
2 4 432 3423
The ...
11
votes
5answers
267 views
Cognitive processing/interpretation of data visualizations techniques
Does anyone know of research which investigates the effectiveness (understandability?) of different visualization techniques?
For example, how quickly do people understand one form of visualization ...
24
votes
10answers
2k views
What is your favorite layman's explanation for a difficult statistical concept?
I really enjoy hearing simple explanations to complex problems. What is your favorite analogy or anecdote that explains a difficult statistical concept?
My favorite is Murray's explanation of ...
