42 questions linked to/from Famous statistical quotations
214k views

### Statistics Jokes

Well, we've got favourite statistics quotes. What about statistics jokes?
18k views

### Regarding p-values, why 1% and 5%? Why not 6% or 10%?

Regarding p-values, I am wondering why $1$% and $5$% seem to be the gold standard for "statistical significance". Why not other values, like $6$% or $10$%? Is ...
28k views

### When to use Fisher and Neyman-Pearson framework?

I've been reading a lot lately about the differences between Fisher's method of hypothesis testing and the Neyman-Pearson school of thought. My question is, ignoring philosophical objections for a ...
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### How to describe statistics in one sentence?

When I first started learning statistics, procedures like the t-test, ANOVA, chi-squared and linear regression each appeared to be very different creatures. But now I realise these procedures each do ...
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### Are all models useless? Is any exact model possible — or useful?

This question has been festering in my mind for over a month. The February 2015 issue of Amstat News contains an article by Berkeley Professor Mark van der Laan that scolds people for using inexact ...
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### How to test hypothesis of no group differences?

Imagine you have a study with two groups (e.g., males and females) looking at a numeric dependent variable (e.g., intelligence test scores) and you have the hypothesis that there are no group ...
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### How small a quantity should be added to x to avoid taking the log of zero?

I have analysed my data as they are. Now I want to look at my analyses after taking the log of all variables. Many variables contain many zeros. Therefore I add a small quantity to avoid taking the ...
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### Is there an explanation for why there are so many natural phenomena that follow normal distribution?

I think this is a fascinating topic and I do not fully understand it. What law of physics makes so that so many natural phenomena have normal distribution? It would seem more intuitive that they would ...
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### Distribution hypothesis testing - what is the point of doing it if you can't “accept” your null hypothesis?

Various hypothesis tests, such as the $\chi^{2}$ GOF test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Anderson-Darling, etc., follow this basic format: $H_0$: The data follow the given distribution. $H_1$: The data do not ...
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### Why do my p-values differ between logistic regression output, chi-squared test, and the confidence interval for the OR?

I have built a logistic regression where the outcome variable is being cured after receiving treatment (Cure vs. No Cure). All ...
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### Pitfalls in experimental design: Avoiding dead experiments

I've come across this quote numerous times: To consult the statistician after an experiment is finished is often merely to ask him to conduct a post mortem examination. He can perhaps say what ...
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### What is effect size… and why is it even useful?

I have an introductory-graduate-level statistics background (assume I know mathematical statistics and probability at an undergraduate level (e.g., Wackerly et al., Ross' Probability), and have some ...
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### How to test if my distribution is multimodal?

When I plot a histogram of my data, it has two peaks: Does that mean a potential multi-modal distribution? I ran the dip.test in R (...