Blog

  • Introduction to Hypothesis Tests on a Population Proportion

    By Sullivan Statistics | 04/13/2017 | Comments Off on Introduction to Hypothesis Tests on a Population Proportion

    One of the most difficult concepts for students to grasp is that of a P-value.  The video below was recorded in my Introductory Statistics class at Joliet Junior College.   To introduce my students to P-values, I simulate drawing many (5000) samples from a population built based on the statement in the null hypothesis (this…

  • Students t Distribution

    By Sullivan Statistics | 03/30/2017 | Comments Off on Students t Distribution

    Do your students understand why we use Student’s t Distribution when performing inference on a mean when the population standard deviation is unknown?  I have uploaded a video to YouTube that I recorded in my Intro Stats class.  The video uses simulation to motivate Student’s t-distribution.

  • Replication and the Media

    By Sullivan Statistics | 03/21/2017 | Comments Off on Replication and the Media

    The following research article published in PlosOne describes the role of replication in research articles as well as the lack of media follow-up on research.   I recommend that you ask your students to read this article and have a discussion about the role the media plays in delivering scientific research.  Does the media have…

  • ICTCM

    By Sullivan Statistics | 03/08/2017 | Comments Off on ICTCM

    I will be attending the International Conference on Teaching Collegiate Mathematics in Chicago.  The event is March 9 through March 12. Click here for more information. I am scheduled to give two talks at the conference. My Positive Experience Using an Engaging and Interactive Statistics Program Online Friday @ 11:15-11:45 am I will be presenting…

  • Mathematics of Love

    By Sullivan Statistics | 02/13/2017 | Comments Off on Mathematics of Love

    In this weekend’s Wall Street Journal, there is an article entitled “In Love, Formula Suggests Only Fools Rush In”. The article looks into the marriage problem, first analyzed in Scientific American in 1960. The idea is essentially a decision about whether you should stay with the current individual you are courting, or dump that individual…

  • Data Models versus Algorithmic Models

    By Sullivan Statistics | 02/03/2017 | Comments Off on Data Models versus Algorithmic Models

    Here is an interesting article on the differences between Data Models (the typical models used in an Intro Stats course) and Algorithmic Models (the type of models Data Scientists use). Statistical Models: Two Cultures

  • Co-Requisite Remediation

    By Sullivan Statistics | 02/01/2017 | Comments Off on Co-Requisite Remediation

    Here is an interesting study completed within the City University of New York system on co-requisite remediation. They compared three groups using a randomized trial – Elementary Algebra students, Elementary Algebra with Supplemental Instruction, Elementary Statistics with Supplemental Instruction.  The 721 participants were randomly assigned to one of those three groups.  Guess what?  The pass…

  • USCOTS 2017

    By Sullivan Statistics | 01/31/2017 | Comments Off on USCOTS 2017

    Consider attending the premier statistics education conference.  The United States Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS) held at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College, Pennsylvania May 18 – 20, 2017.  The theme of this year’s conference is “Show Me The Data!”.   Click here for more details.

  • Fundamentals of Statistics

    By Sullivan Statistics | 01/31/2017 | Comments Off on Fundamentals of Statistics

    The latest version of Fundamentals of Statistics is now available. Here are some of the new and exciting features of the text. Videos The suite of videos available with this edition has been extensively updated. Featuring the author and George Woodbury, there are both instructional videos that develop statistical concepts and example videos. Most example videos have both by-hand solutions…