Why are we often anxious about or even suspicious of statistics? Let’s take a look at this topic. Along with some interesting examples I’ve got some statistics-oriented jokes I hope you’ll find funny (okay, maybe you’ll just find them…interesting. Humor me). Conquer your fears this week on The Psych Files.
Resources For This Podcast
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- Michael Shermer’s book, Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time
is also an excellent book on the kinds of thinking that lead us astray. This is the book I mention in the podcast where Mr. Shermer took a tour through the Edgar Casey museum and took the ESP “test”.
- Michael Shermer’s book, Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time
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- Carl Sagan’s book, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
, is also a very readable book regarding why we believe strange things.
- Carl Sagan’s book, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
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- If you are teaching or learning statistics you might want to take a look at the Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education. Also, the Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics has a humor section that you might like. Thanks to professor Blaine Peden for suggesting these sites.
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- Want more statistics jokes? Check out Gary C. Ramseyer’s Internet Gallery of Statistics Jokes, for more jokes on statistics than you asked for. Again thanks to Professor Peden for this link.
- Here is the TED talks presentation by Peter Donnelly. Fascinating.
Beatriz
August 22, 2007Hi Michael. Yes! The Opera House is in Sydney. It’s beautiful and so is the surrounding area.
Michael
August 22, 2007Beatriz: thanks for your note. Brought a smile to my face. I’d love to come to Sydney! I’ve been dying to see the Opera house (that is in Sydney isn’t it?). Someday…
Hope the episodes continue to be helpful.
Beatriz
August 22, 2007Hi Michael,
I’m listening to you from Australia. I have just started studying psychology this semester and have listened to a few of your podcasts. They have helped me immensely with my studies and understanding of concepts. Maybe you could come and teach in Sydney?Thank you for all the work that you have put into this site. Beatriz.
Michael Britt
August 22, 2007Ruth,
Thanks so much. I just checked out the website (http://www.tulsalibrary.org/). Very nice design and thanks for adding me to the list!
You are correct that objectives typically do indeed address the smaller steps that one takes in pursuit of larger goals. Good distinction, because the only way to reach broad goals is to break them down into smaller objectives.
Finally – yes, indeed – weight loss for many people (except my mother-in-law it seems) does get harder with age. I still struggle with it, which is why I did episode 83 (https://thepsychfiles.com/2009/01/13/episode-83-new-years-resolutions-to-lose-weight-why-so-hard-to-keep/).
Thanks again
Michael
Ruth Wiens
August 22, 2007Dr. Britt:
Thank you for your podcasts. Psychfiles and Fitness Rocks podcasts get me through my exercise. I just added your Web site to the Psychology Subject Guide on tulslibrary.org.
I do want to mention that there is a big difference between goals and ojectives. Goals=what you want to achieve, objectives are the steps you can take to get there.
Congratulations on your weight loss. I thought I was one of the fortunate ones because I’ve always had to watch my weight. HA! It does get harder.
Ruth Wiens
Episode 42: Taking A Psychology Class? » The Psych Files
August 22, 2007[…] Research and Statistics in Psychology: Why Statistics Make Us Queasy […]