Allen Downey

Why do male test takers consistently score about 30 points higher than female test takers on the mathematics section of the SAT? Does this reflect an actual difference in math ability, or is it an artifact of selection bias—if young men with low math ability are less likely to take the test than young women with the same ability?

In the hype cycle of data science, I suggest that the "peak of inflated expectations" was in 2012, the "trough of disillusionment" was in 2016, and since then, we have climbed the "slope of enlightenment".

Long-tailed distributions are common in natural and engineered systems; as a result, we encounter extreme values more often than we would expect from a short-tailed distribution. If we are not prepared for these "black swans", they can be disastrous.

The inspection paradox is a statistical illusion you’ve probably never heard of. It’s a common source of confusion, an occasional cause of error, and an opportunity for clever experimental design.