Published Mar 20, 2017

Andrew Gelman on Social Science, Small Samples, and the Garden of the Forking Paths

Statistician Andrew Gelman analyzes the pitfalls of small sample studies and questionable practices in social science research, arguing for better theoretical frameworks and empirical methods to address issues like the replication crisis and the misuse of statistical significance.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

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Andrew Gelman on Social Science, Small Samples, and the Garden of the Forking Paths

Topics covered

Popular Clips

The Science of Political Debates

Minimum Wage Effects

Challenging Data Analysis

The Limits of Skepticism

Statistical Fallacies

The Effectiveness of Early Childhood Intervention

The Garden of Forking Paths

The Problem with Priming

Priming and ESP

Statistical Significance Explained

Replication Crisis

Statistical Bias

Rethinking Statistical Significance

Flawed Psychological Studies

Episode Highlights

Early Childhood Intervention

Replication Crisis

Statistical Significance

Related Episodes

John Ioannidis on Statistical Significance, Economics, and Replication

James Heckman on Facts, Evidence, and the State of Econometrics

David Epstein on Mastery, Specialization, and Range

Emanuel Derman on Theories, Models, and Science

Adam Mastroianni on Peer Review and the Academic Kitchen

Andrew McAfee on the Geek Way

Dan Klein on Truth, Bias, and Disagreement

An Interview with Gary Becker

Michael Blastland on the Hidden Half

David Weinberger on Too Big to Know

Arnold Kling on Specialization and Trade

Stephen Marglin on Markets and Community

Jim Manzi on Knowledge, Policy, and Uncontrolled

Adam Ozimek on the Power of Econometrics and Data

Noah Smith on Whether Economics is a Science

Andrew Gelman on Social Science, Small Samples, and the Garden of the Forking Paths

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Early Childhood InterventionAndrew Gelman critiques the reliability of small sample studies in social science, particularly in early childhood intervention research. He emphasizes the need for robust theoretical frameworks and empirical data to guide policy decisions.

Early Childhood Intervention

Replication CrisisAndrew Gelman explores the replication crisis in social sciences, emphasizing the role of p-hacking and flawed methodologies. He highlights how these practices undermine the reliability of research findings, particularly in psychology.

Replication Crisis

Statistical Significance

Related Episodes