Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

The R^2 Statistic in Linear Regression

What is the R2 statistic? What does the value of R2 tell us about the change in the dependent variable? The R2 statistic represents the proportion of the variance in the dependent variable that stems from the change in the independent variable. When using the R2 statistic to quantify the association between independent and dependent variables, it’s important to keep in mind that the R2 in linear regression only applies to linear relationships. It’s possible for two variables to be related, just not in a linear way. Here’s a look at the R2 statistic in linear regression.

What Is Selection Bias in Research?—Explained

What is selection bias in research methodology? How does selection bias affect research findings? Selection bias occurs when individuals chosen to partake in a study are not representative of the population of interest. Selection bias can be subtle—if researchers aren’t cognizant of selection bias when developing data collection methods, the fact that a sample is not truly random might go unnoticed. Here’s why it’s important to watch out for selection bias when collecting data for the purposes of research.

How to Keep Your Brain Healthy and Active as You Age

Is cognitive decline inevitable? Is there a way to slow down the rate of age-related cognitive impairment? Just like any other organ, your brain’s health will inevitably decline with age. However, it’s not totally out of your control: You can slow down the rate of cognitive decline by stimulating your brain through learning and doing novel activities. Here’s how to keep your brain healthy and active as you age.

Why Don’t Rich People Pay Taxes?

How Economic Outpatient Care Leads to UAW Children

Why don’t rich people pay taxes? Is the American taxation regressive or progressive? In the U.S., most of the tax burden is borne by low- and middle-income earners. The reason for this is that American taxation is regressive, pulling the bulk of public funds from taxes that come from regular families while a large portion of American wealth remains in the pockets of the ultra-wealthy. Here’s why the ultra-rich pay less in taxes.

Foods That Spike Insulin and Contribute to Weight Gain

Which foods spike insulin the most? How does insulin promote overeating? Everything you eat causes insulin release, but some foods spike insulin significantly more than others. Processed carbohydrates—specifically wheat and added sugars—cause insulin to spike dramatically, promoting overeating despite lacking nutritional value. Below, we’ll break down the foods that spike insulin.

Statistical Measures of Central Tendency Explained

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.

Recall Bias in Research: Self-Reporting Issues

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.

How Chronic Brain Inflammation Contributes to Cognitive Decline

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.

Should the American Government Pay Slavery Reparations?

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.

Jason Fung: A New Theory of Obesity

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.