Mathematics 363

Introduction to Statistical Methods

Fall 2013

Short Responses

1. Watch the video

http://www.tedafrica.org/talks/hans_rosling_at_state.html

a. Pick one of the animation sequences Rosling presents. Discuss how his approach to presenting the data yielded some new insight that might not have been obvious via a more traditional approach (e.g., a simple bar graph and lots of hand-waving). In particular, think about how he might have chosen to show certain inter-relationships and why (e.g., evolution of some particular statistic across countries with respect to time).

b. True or False (with a brief explanation as to why): Data visualization is an art in itself. One (philosophical) approach is to “present the data in such a way that it speaks for itself.”

2. Read the International Statistical Institute Declaration on Professional Ethics

http://www.isi-web.org/about-isi/professional-ethics

and give brief answers to the following questions

a. Who is a statistician?

b. Why do we have ethical standards?

c. What are some of the sources of personal bias that a researcher brings to a scientific question?

d. What can be done to reduce the impact of these biases?