Comments for Math Stats And Data Mining http://www.statisticgraphs.com interpreting meaningful math and statistics concepts Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:45:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 Comment on What does Human Computer Interaction really mean? by Interview from MS in HCI - Iowa State - Please Help !! - Page 4 - The TestMagic Forums http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/what-does-human-computer-interaction-really-mean/#comment-9 Interview from MS in HCI - Iowa State - Please Help !! - Page 4 - The TestMagic Forums Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:06:02 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/what-does-human-computer-interaction-really-mean/#comment-9 [...] world renowned virtual reality lab (VRAC) and that is the driving force behind our HCI department. Math Stats And Data Mining » Blog Archive » What does Human Computer Interaction really mean? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ TopCoder, Research Advice, MS CS Chances, Algorithms GRE CS Subject [...] […] world renowned virtual reality lab (VRAC) and that is the driving force behind our HCI department. Math Stats And Data Mining » Blog Archive » What does Human Computer Interaction really mean? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ TopCoder, Research Advice, MS CS Chances, Algorithms GRE CS Subject […]

]]> Comment on Why is Statistics So Scary? by Rachel http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-8 Rachel Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:19:53 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-8 I agree with you when you say statistics is used as a "as a tool of persuasion." The misuses of statistics in our daily lives are unbelievable. I have my students bring in an example of an unfounded statistic for a take-home assignment. They never seem to have any problem finding one and I have never had a repeat. They bring me things from the radio, television, and all kinds of print. It is amazing to me. I agree with you when you say statistics is used as a “as a tool of persuasion.” The misuses of statistics in our daily lives are unbelievable. I have my students bring in an example of an unfounded statistic for a take-home assignment. They never seem to have any problem finding one and I have never had a repeat. They bring me things from the radio, television, and all kinds of print. It is amazing to me.

]]> Comment on Why is Statistics So Scary? by Mike http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-7 Mike Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:10:41 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-7 I've been relearning statistics lately. I'm not a mathematician, but i generally enjoy math and i use it often in my job. I find statistics slightly intimidating because it's difficult sometimes to figure out if you have the right answer (we're talking about a field that's defined two different ways to be wrong). Even if you apply the methods correctly, you can get bad answers if you assume an incorrect model for your data; and often you don't arrive at a firm answer, but rather some confidence interval or likelihood. Finally, i think that statistics as an academic domain is confused with statistics as a tool of persuasion (in the sense of "lies, damned lies, and statistics"). I think this has given the layman the impression that statistics is not so much a rigorous branch of mathematics, but rather a means of selecting the best data to support your own view. I’ve been relearning statistics lately. I’m not a mathematician, but i generally enjoy math and i use it often in my job. I find statistics slightly intimidating because it’s difficult sometimes to figure out if you have the right answer (we’re talking about a field that’s defined two different ways to be wrong). Even if you apply the methods correctly, you can get bad answers if you assume an incorrect model for your data; and often you don’t arrive at a firm answer, but rather some confidence interval or likelihood.

Finally, i think that statistics as an academic domain is confused with statistics as a tool of persuasion (in the sense of “lies, damned lies, and statistics”). I think this has given the layman the impression that statistics is not so much a rigorous branch of mathematics, but rather a means of selecting the best data to support your own view.

]]> Comment on Be Careful How You Use the Pythagorean Theorem by Sandro http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/be-careful-how-you-use-the-pythagorean-theorem/#comment-6 Sandro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:05:38 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/be-careful-how-you-use-the-pythagorean-theorem/#comment-6 Hi there, You have started a very nice blog! I hope you will continue posting. I like especially the last two posts. Regards. Hi there,

You have started a very nice blog! I hope you will continue posting. I like especially the last two posts.

Regards.

]]> Comment on Why is Statistics So Scary? by David http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-5 David Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:09:54 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-5 "I hate statistics". I hate they way statistics is taught. It is too broad of a topic for a specific course, and should rather be integrated (no pun intended) with other courses. For example, while learning integration in a calculus course, there could be a small aside involving the normal distribution (since the normal dist. integrated from -inf to inf equals 1). One of the few parts of statistics that I don't see able to be merged into another course is probability, which could easily be fit into a ~3 month course. I also dislike the inconsistent notation used with statistics. It's like everything BUT statistics uses a nice, standard notation. One last complaint; I absolutely HATE the reliance on numbers (this ties into the way it is taught). There is so much that could be done symbolically, but is instead done using brute-force methods such as using random numbers. Hopefully I can avoid any more statistics courses until I'm done with my schooling ;) “I hate statistics”.

I hate they way statistics is taught. It is too broad of a topic for a specific course, and should rather be integrated (no pun intended) with other courses. For example, while learning integration in a calculus course, there could be a small aside involving the normal distribution (since the normal dist. integrated from -inf to inf equals 1). One of the few parts of statistics that I don’t see able to be merged into another course is probability, which could easily be fit into a ~3 month course.

I also dislike the inconsistent notation used with statistics. It’s like everything BUT statistics uses a nice, standard notation.

One last complaint; I absolutely HATE the reliance on numbers (this ties into the way it is taught). There is so much that could be done symbolically, but is instead done using brute-force methods such as using random numbers.

Hopefully I can avoid any more statistics courses until I’m done with my schooling ;)

]]> Comment on Why is Statistics So Scary? by tshah http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-4 tshah Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:50:29 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-4 I think Stats can be scary for some students is because all the greek letters and profs not making connection to real life examples. I think Stats can be scary for some students is because all the greek letters and profs not making connection to real life examples.

]]> Comment on Let the words lead you to the formula!! by Will Dwinnell http://www.statisticgraphs.com/statistics/let-the-words-lead-you-to-the-formula/#comment-3 Will Dwinnell Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:57:00 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/statistics/let-the-words-lead-you-to-the-formula/#comment-3 Is there any chance you'd be willing to share that recipe? It sounds good! Thanks, Will Is there any chance you’d be willing to share that recipe? It sounds good!

Thanks,
Will

]]> Comment on Why is Statistics So Scary? by Will Dwinnell http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-2 Will Dwinnell Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:54:28 +0000 http://www.statisticgraphs.com/applied-math/why-is-statistics-so-scary/#comment-2 You raise an interesting question. I have responded in my Oct-17-2007 posting, " Statistics: Why Do So Many Hate It?" (http://abbottanalytics.blogspot.com/2007/10/statistics-why-do-so-many-hate-it.html) on the Web log I co-author with Dean Abbot, "Data Mining and Predictive Analytics" (http://abbottanalytics.blogspot.com/). You raise an interesting question. I have responded in my Oct-17-2007 posting, ” Statistics: Why Do So Many Hate It?” (http://abbottanalytics.blogspot.com/2007/10/statistics-why-do-so-many-hate-it.html) on the Web log I co-author with Dean Abbot, “Data Mining and Predictive Analytics” (http://abbottanalytics.blogspot.com/).

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