Comments on: Stats 101: Chapter 6 http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/05/22/stats-101-chapter-6/ "All manner of statistical analyses cheerfully undertaken." Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:57:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Mike D. http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/05/22/stats-101-chapter-6/#comment-7227 Mike D. Sun, 25 May 2008 02:17:51 +0000 http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/05/22/stats-101-chapter-6/#comment-7227 Right now I'm working with those extreme values out in the tails. R is great for that: log pearson3, GEV, L-moments. But there is no getting away from the fact that the data are sparse, and anything can happen out there. Short of extraterrestrials landing in Time Square. Although, many do not rule that out. Right now I’m working with those extreme values out in the tails. R is great for that: log pearson3, GEV, L-moments. But there is no getting away from the fact that the data are sparse, and anything can happen out there. Short of extraterrestrials landing in Time Square. Although, many do not rule that out.

]]> By: Briggs http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/05/22/stats-101-chapter-6/#comment-7226 Briggs Sat, 24 May 2008 09:40:09 +0000 http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/05/22/stats-101-chapter-6/#comment-7226 Plus, the math is by far the most important thing in applying probability to real-world applications. The math is easy, but understanding is difficult. Too, the traditional method of concentrating on the math has led many astray and is what accounts for people saying ridiculous things like "the data is normal" or they ask "how can you tell your data is normal?" No data is "normal". You can only --- approximately --- quantify your uncertainty in something using a normal distribution. I'll come to this more later. Chapter 8 will probably appear on Tuesday. Plus, the math is by far the most important thing in applying probability to real-world applications. The math is easy, but understanding is difficult.

Too, the traditional method of concentrating on the math has led many astray and is what accounts for people saying ridiculous things like “the data is normal” or they ask “how can you tell your data is normal?” No data is “normal”. You can only — approximately — quantify your uncertainty in something using a normal distribution.

I’ll come to this more later.

Chapter 8 will probably appear on Tuesday.

]]> By: Mike D. http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/05/22/stats-101-chapter-6/#comment-7225 Mike D. Sat, 24 May 2008 03:48:36 +0000 http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/05/22/stats-101-chapter-6/#comment-7225 Difficult to get away from the math! I like this chapter, though. You are getting there. There is a Law of Large Numbers, but small numbers are almost complete anarchists. Difficult to get away from the math! I like this chapter, though. You are getting there. There is a Law of Large Numbers, but small numbers are almost complete anarchists.

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