• Sibbo@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    4·
    1 month ago

    P-hacking is the academically problematic practice of attempting to come up with a question for which the data offers a significant p-value (probability value), as opposed to correct scientific analysis in which a question is formulated clearly and then answered with data.

    It took a while to parse this comic, but with the explanation it’s probably much easier to understand for anyone who doesn’t know what P-hacking is.

    • Agent641@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 month ago

      Reduce the sample size by increasing qualifying parameters until you find a dataset that matches your hypothesis in such a way that the research grant will be approved.

      • psycotica0@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        30 days ago

        Sometimes even worse, which is to collect a raft of data testing one hypothesis, and then realize it all came up empty, and so go looking for any data you can form a new hypothesis from that matches the data you already have.

  • tyler@programming.devEnglish
    1·
    1 month ago

    I’ve complained about this for years. This is only in America btw. In other countries they just watch and don’t care about the statistics.

  • shoo@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    30 days ago

    The reaction to sports pseudo-stats is what really separates casual viewers from real fans. It’s the only way to raise stakes on otherwise forgettable games.

    “This team is on a 5 game win streak”: 🥱

    “This player has never lost an away game in June”: 😯🍿