The confluence of statistics methodology and philosophy The math Everyone knows this But what does it really mean Averaging is a common technique 1952 How many of the 4000 pilots fit all the 10 averages ID: 573171
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Slide1
What is an average?The confluence of statistics, methodology, and philosophySlide2
The math…
Everyone knows this.
But what does it
really
mean?
Slide3
Averaging is a common techniqueSlide4
1952
How many of the 4000 pilots fit all the 10 averages?
0Slide5
ArtSlide6
NeuroscienceSlide7
IQ testingSlide8
Does an average make sense?Slide9
Yes, only if accompanied by measures of variationDescriptive
M = 25; SD = 5InferentialM = 25;
SE
= 2.9; 95%
CI = [19.31, 30.7]Cumming. (2012). Introduction to the new statistics.
Important lesson:
Means
without standard deviation (or any measure of
im
precision) is useless!Slide10
All inferential statistics are imprecise (probabilistic)Regression (continuous IV)
T-test, ANOVAs, etc. (categorical IV)
Same, just variants of regression. Slide11
No, there is no such thing as an average humanOr an average cell.
Or an average student.Or an average driver.Or an average [ ___ ].***A mathematical average may not be a true average ***Slide12
My pointAcross science, we tend to think in terms of averages.Did the therapy work compared to the control? Yes…on average.
Are you satisfied with “Yes…on average”?Can human nature be captured by an average?If not, do we have better tools?Slide13
Should we capitalize on individuality?Slide14
Exploiting individuality: The bad wayMany pseudoscientific claims lament the “objectivity” of science, denounce that scientists never agree with one another, complain that the individual is missing….
They claim that they offer individualized insights into YOU as a unique person.It feels sooooo good when people affirm our individuality!Slide15
Exploiting individuality: The bad way
Yes, but not me.(unrealistic optimism)Slide16
Exploiting individuality: The good wayMedicine (e.g., Panadol vs. aspirin)Psychotherapy (e.g., OCD and personalized triggers)
Industrial design (e.g., butt warmer, adjustable car seats)Slide17
But what I really want you to think about is…
Your own educationSlide18
The Myth of the Averagehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eBmyttcfU4
Read: “The end of average” by Todd Rose