statistical symbols on a chalkboard

Probability and Statistics: The Drunkard’s Walk

Probability and Statistics Impact Our Lives In his book, The Drunkard’s Walk:  How Randomness Rules Our Lives [Vintage, 2008],  Leonard Mlodinow provides an interesting look at how random events guide so much of what happens to us and…
Sampling Data

What are Non-Parametric Statistical Tests?

There are two broad categories of statistical tests:  parametric and non parametric statistical tests. In most introductory and general statistics courses, parametric tests are discussed, in particular z-tests, t-tests, analysis of variance,…
icon showing java programming language

What Is Java Programming Language?

,
Java is a general-purpose computer programming language specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is the foundation for virtually every type of networked application and is the global standard for developing…
lists out programming languages such as, MATLAB

What Is MATLAB?

MATLAB (short for matrix laboratory) is a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment and proprietary programming language developed by MathWorks, a leading developer of mathematical computing software for engineers and scientists. Intended…
Paper showing signifcant digits

The Numbers Game: Significant Digits, Rounding and Truncating

It is important for those who work with data to know and understand some of the technical aspects of numbers, both when precise measurements and rounded or estimated figures are involved. In this article, we will look at three related aspects…
automatic data collection occurs on the highway

With or Without Your Knowing: Automatic Data Collection

There are many ways to collect data including surveys, interviews and research experiments. Most data is collected with the knowledge and consent of the people involved. But in recent decades, with the growth of the Internet and other computer…
Strength in Numbers

Book Review: Strength in Numbers

Strength in Numbers: Discovering the Joy and Power of Mathematics in Everyday Life by Sherman K. Stein Based on the subtitle of the book, one might expect Sherman Stein’s Strength in Numbers to discuss when and where we see and use mathematics…
data analytics word cloud

What’s in the Words: Text Analysis

While it takes human judgment to determine the usefulness of statistical analysis, analyzing quantitative data using the many statistical methods available to us is a relatively straightforward process. Analyzing qualitative data, on the other…
average numbers

The Best “Average”? That Depends.

The word “average” in layman terms is what is called the mean in statistics. But the word “average” in statistical terms can refer to any of the three measures of central tendency: mean, median and mode. As a quick review, the mean arithmetic…
Correlation and causation

Not the Same: Correlation and Causation

When the measures of two phenomena (or factors or variables) change in relation to one another, they are said to be correlated. Sometimes, when one phenomenon changes, the other phenomenon changes because of the first one. That is, there is…