Research Methods

The Inspection Paradox is Everywhere

The inspection paradox occurs when sampling methods systematically oversample larger instances, leading to biased perceptions across various domains like class sizes, flight occupancy, and social networks. Through multiple real-world examples and data analysis, the phenomenon demonstrates how observers often experience skewed distributions that differ significantly from actual statistics. Statistical awareness of this paradox is crucial for accurate data interpretation and experimental design.

Does X cause Y? An in-depth evidence review

An exploration of the challenges in determining causal relationships between variables through academic research, highlighting how most observational studies must be discarded due to methodological issues. The analysis reveals that even the most rigorous studies often produce conflicting or ambiguous results, with randomized trials being the most reliable despite their limitations.

Your AI can’t see gorillas

A study comparing human and AI analysis of data patterns revealed that Large Language Models (LLMs) struggle to identify obvious visual patterns during exploratory data analysis, despite being proficient at creating visualizations and analyzing quantitative metrics. This limitation suggests both advantages in avoiding confirmation bias and potential drawbacks in hypothesis generation, highlighting important considerations for integrating LLMs into scientific workflows.