Bullshit Readings
One common source of bullshit data analysis arises when people ignore, deliberately or otherwise, the fact that correlation is not causation. The consequences can be hilarious (these are totally nerd-funny so check them out!), but this confusion can also be used to mislead. Confusing causality with necessity or sufficiency. Regression to the mean pitched as treatment effect. Milton Friedman’s thermostat. Selection masked as transformation.
READ Robert Matthews (2000) Storks deliver babies (p = 0.0008). Teaching Statistics 22:36-38.
REVIEW Traffic Improvements Case Study.
Educational Research PowerPoint
Familarize yourself with quantitative research desgins by READING this PowerPoint.
Find out a bit more about correlation by READING this PowerPoint.
Tasks
Read the article, review the case study, look over the two PowerPoints, and do Blog #4.