Abuse of Women Statistics: How Many Suffer From Mistreatment

Abuse of Women Statistics: How Many Suffer From Mistreatment

What are the statistics on female abuse? How does the patriarchy contribute to these growing numbers? According to Rebecca Solnit, women have long been fighting for basic human rights. Despite great progress in recent decades, the numbers on the mistreatment of women are still too high. Let’s look at the abuse of women statistics to get a better understanding of why women are still fighting for equality.

The Observation Selection Effect: A Handy Tool for Bullshitters

The Observation Selection Effect: A Handy Tool for Bullshitters

How much damage can improper data collection create? How can manipulators leverage it for their own advantage? In Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West contend that bullshit often arises when data-based arguments rely on flawed data. They explain how the observation selection effect is an example of this and show how some people take advantage of it to deliberately deceive others. Continue reading to learn about the observation selection effect and how it can wreak havoc.

Selection Bias in Statistics: 2 Ways Faulty Data Creates Bullshit

Selection Bias in Statistics: 2 Ways Faulty Data Creates Bullshit

Should you trust data-based arguments? How can data go terribly wrong? In Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West investigate how bullshit is created. They assert that it happens when people use faulty data as a basis for their arguments. Specifically, they say selection bias can lead to bullshit because it justifies faulty conclusions based on unrepresentative samples.  Read more to understand how selection bias in statistics can lead to harmful misinformation.

Misinterpreting Data: 6 Ways Bullshitters Try to Fool You

Misinterpreting Data: 6 Ways Bullshitters Try to Fool You

Can you distinguish causation from correlation? Do you notice when numbers have been taken out of context? Unfortunately, some people manipulate data to mislead others. In their book Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West argue that bullshitters make invalid inferences from valid data or visually misrepresent valid data in graphic form. Keep reading to learn how bullshitters purposely misinterpret data to draw unjustified conclusions.

Lies in Science: How a Focus on P-Values Leads to Bullshit

Lies in Science: How a Focus on P-Values Leads to Bullshit

Is the institution of science immune from misinformation? How can there be lies in science when practitioners are committed to the scientific method? In Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West argue that science’s focus on statistical significance gives rise to bullshit for two reasons: we can easily misinterpret what statistical significance means, and we’re exposed to statistically significant findings only because of publication bias. Let’s take a close look at both of these problematic dynamics in science.

Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World

Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World

Do you know bullshit when you see it? What do you do about it? Should you call it out? With the proliferation of misinformation online, in the news, and even in academia, the modern world is replete with nonsense and flat-out lies. In their book Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West contend that anyone can learn how to detect and refute bullshit in its many forms. Continue reading for an overview of this book that’s more important than ever.

Bullshit: The Problem With Big Data You Should Know About

Bullshit: The Problem With Big Data You Should Know About

What’s big data? How helpful is training data? What can make it problematic? Professors Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West are so concerned about misinformation that they wrote a book about it. In Calling Bullshit, they argue that big data can foster bullshit because it can incorporate poor training data and find illusory connections by chance. Continue reading to learn about a problem with big data that should have everyone’s attention.

Why Do People Want Money So Bad? The Top Motivations

Why Do People Want Money So Bad? The Top Motivations

Why do people want money? What motivates you to make more money? To achieve financial success, You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero asserts that you must clearly define why you want money and what you want it for. Having a general desire to be wealthy isn’t enough, as you’ll likely have to push yourself to reach your financial goals. Continue reading if you want to dig deep and discover why you truly want more money.

How to Use Bayesian Reasoning to Make Better Predictions

future mindset

What if you could make better decisions because you’re able to make better predictions? How can an eighteenth-century statistician help you? People often miscalculate the probability of an event occurring and then make poor decisions based on that miscalculation. Steven Pinker explains how you can use Bayesian reasoning to make more accurate assessments of evidence and, in turn, make more accurate predictions about the future. Read more to learn how to use Bayesian reasoning to make decisions that are based on a better understanding of what’s going on.

Understand Probability and Randomness to Make Better Decisions

Understand Probability and Randomness to Make Better Decisions

Are you superstitious at all? Can you tell when data is meaningful and when it’s just random? According to Steven Pinker, an important aspect of rationality is getting a good handle on probability and randomness in order to make more accurate assessments and, in turn, better decisions. He looks at two ways that people misunderstand probability and shares a handy tool to counter these flaws in thinking. Keep reading to get a better grasp on how probability works and how randomness comes into play.