The World's Best Book Summaries
What is central tendency in statistics? What are the different ways to measure central tendency? Central tendency is a descriptive statistic that represents the middle of a data set. There are three main statistical measures of central tendency: the mean, median, and mode. Each of these measures describes a slightly different central position within a data set. Let’s examine the three statistical measures of central tendency.
What is recall bias in research methodology? Why is self-reporting unreliable as a data-collection method? Recall bias is a major problem in studies where data is collected through self-reporting. Because human memory is not like a tape recorder, our recollection of the past is unreliable. There are significant psychological influences on how a memory is recollected (e.g. the personal meaning we’ve assigned to the events). Keep reading to learn about recall bias.
Can your brain get inflamed? What happens when chronic inflammation develops in the brain? Inflammation is meant to protect our bodies, but when it becomes chronic, it can be damaging. Chronic brain inflammation is one of the key factors in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Here’s how chronic inflammation in the brain contributes to cognitive decline.
How does the legacy of slavery still reverberate amongst Black Americans? Should the American government provide reparations to descendants of American slaves? Most of the injustices Black Americans face are either caused or perpetuated by economic inequality. To eliminate inequality and the injustices that follow, the government should provide Black Americans with financial aid and enhance funding for low-income and majority-Black communities, according to the author of The 1619 Project. In this article, we will discuss how the modern financial injustices Black Americans face are the result of slavery and Jim Crow, and what slavery reparations should entail.
Is obesity simply the result of eating too much and moving too little? Or is obesity a disease? What role do hormones play in obesity? According to Canadian nephrologist Jason Fung, obesity results from a hormonal dysfunction that centers on chronically high insulin levels. Chronically high insulin throws your body’s fat storage out of balance, disrupts your hunger hormones, and drives intractable weight gain. Keep reading to learn about Fung’s theory of obesity.
What is regression analysis in statistics? What can a regression test tell us about the relationship between two variables? Regression analysis is an inferential statistic that can help us infer relationships between variables that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to study. Regression analysis quantifies the direction, magnitude, and significance of an independent variable’s relationship to a dependent variable. Here’s a look at what inferential analysis does and the statistics involved.
What is program evaluation research? What types of program evaluations are there? Program evaluation refers to any situation where we’re interested in measuring the outcome of an event, which we refer to as a “treatment.” “Treatments” encompass academic interventions, social programs, political policies, fitness regimens, business tactics, clinical trials, and so on. Keep reading to learn about program evaluation research design and major challenges.
Why is the Black poverty rate so high in America? Why is the racial wealth gap so hard to close? For the majority of Americans, wealth is something that’s accumulated across generations through inheritance. But Black Americans have historically been left with little to no inheritance, making it much harder for them to gain success and wealth compared to white Americans. Keep reading to learn about the causes of Black poverty in America.
How is insulin implicated in dementia? Why are diabetes patients at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease? Insulin resistance is heavily associated with the risk for dementia. In fact, Alzheimer’s disease is sometimes referred to as Type 3 diabetes. Generally, high blood sugar—even without insulin resistance—is associated with cognitive decline. Keep reading to learn about the role of insulin resistance in Alzheimer’s disease.
Is hard work really the key to success? What if we instead found easier routes to progress and success and integrated them into our lives? In our professional and personal lives, we’re often taught that to achieve progress, we must work as hard as we possibly can. According to Greg McKeown, it doesn’t have to be that way. In his book Effortless, he debunks this belief and suggests several ways to make the most of your time with less effort. Here’s how to make progress effortlessly, according to Greg McKeown.