Sometimes, Even Bad Models Make Better Decisions Than People
An applied mathematician wonders whether his environmental management models are doing anyone any good. Turns out, they probably are.
Browsing Tag
Statistics
25 posts
How One Little Number Erodes Trust in Science
Statisticians say it's time to end the cult of "statistical significance."
More Than Just the Numbers
When we treat people as collections of statistics, we ignore important aspects of their humanity.
Why Statistically Significant Studies Aren’t Necessarily Significant
Modern statistics have made it easier than ever for us to fool ourselves.
You, Yes You, Can Analyze Data, Too
What does it take to break into the growing field of data analysis? To start, you'll need the Internet, a computer, and some basic math skills.
How Narratives Cheat the Athletes Who Create Them
Athletes and fans look at sports differently. Ryan O'Hanlon, who is not a professional athlete, and Clint Irwin, who is a professional athlete, wonder if the two sides can ever be separated.
How Do We Know the Death Toll in Syria Is Accurate?
The count of the dead in Syria and other global trouble spots matters a great deal, and so does the provenance of the numbers presented. Here's one exhaustive effort to get them right.
The Formula for a Hollywood Blockbuster
No bowling alleys, no summoning demons, and no troubled superheroes.
The Formula
How an equation cooked up by Mussolini’s numbers guy came to define how we think about inequality—from Occupy Wall Street to the World Bank to the billionaires at Davos—and why it’s time to find a new way of looking at the numbers.