the porous city - other - statistics |
/ |
/ |
email me |
/ |
about |
. . . the case for g rests on a statistical technique, factor analysis, which works solely on correlations between tests. Factor analysis is handy for summarizing data, but can't tell us where the correlations came from; it always says that there is a general factor whenever there are only positive correlations. The appearance of g is a trivial reflection of that correlation structure. A clear example, known since 1916, shows that factor analysis can give the appearance of a general factor when there are actually many thousands of completely independent and equally strong causes at work. Heritability doesn't distinguish these alternatives either. Exploratory factor analysis being no good at discovering causal structure, it provides no support for the reality of g.
. . .
To paraphrase Hume:
When we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what havoc must we make? If we take in our hand any paper; of macroeconomics or correlational psychology, for instance; let us ask, Does it draw its causal inferences from observations with consistent methods? No. Does it draw its causal inferences from experiments, controlled or randomized? No. Commit it then to the recycling bin: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.
Tech
Social, Android, Visual, WRX, Audio, Medical, Storage, AI, Javascript, barcamp, Web, Crowdsourcing, s60, RSS, Data, a11y, Collaboration, Wearables, Hardware, Open, Shopping, Web analytics, Automobile, MacOS, Net, Mobile, PIM, Business, Development, OS, Product Management, Security, Energy
Other
Video, CrowdFlower, California, Transportation, Activism, Agriculture, Minnesota, Clothes, History, Food & Drink, Podcasts, Geography, NYC, San Francisco, Games, Toys, Surfing, Politik, L.A., Boston, Quizzes, Law, Bicycling, Travel, Life hacks, Statistics, Housing, Sports, Friday, Feminism, Berlin, Personal care
Music
Reviews, Making, L.A., Shopping, Business, Mp3s, Boston, Labels, Mixes, Lyrics, Hip-hop, House, Good tracks, History, Musicians, Videos, Booking, Streams, Mailing lists, Events
People
Weblogs, Friends, Enemies, Stories, Health, Working with, Life hacks, Meditation, ADD, Exercise, Me, Languages, Family, Gossip, Subcultures, MOTAS, Vocations, Heroes
Commerce
Web, Investing, Personal finance, Insurance, Microfinance, Shopping, Marketing and CRM, Taxes, Personal services, Management consulting, Non-profit, Real Estate, IP Law, International Development, Macroeconomics
Arts
Poetry, iPad bait, Desktop wallpaper bait, Spoken Word, Movies, Burning Man, Sculpture, Events, Visual, Animation, Outlets, Comix, Humor, Literature, Rhetoric
Design
Type, Process, Cool, Web, IA, Algorithmic, Presentations, Architecture, Furniture, Tools, User experience, Data visualization
Science
Psychology, Physics, Environment, Networks, Zoology, Statistics and Data
Travel
Uganda, Kingdom of Siam, Kenya, Vagabond '08