Daniel LakensStatisticians are trained in how to compute statistics, but not why to compute statistics. At least 10% of their training should be in philosophy of statistics. They should also spend 10 credits on their own empirical research project to understand how data is acually collected.
Erin Jonaitis@lakens Interesting idea. I'm trying to think how this could work in practice. Would it solve the problem to be embedded in a scientist's lab as an RA? I think hands-on experience is valuable but I also think it would be tough to bootstrap a math person (and they're mostly math people) into designing a worthwhile study in a field that isn't theirs.
@emjonaitis Yes, they would of course need to be supervised, as they do not have the skills to collect data independently, but under supervision, it should be possible to do an empirical project. Or maybe in a interdisciplinary course where they work in a team.
@lakens Who would be motivated to supervise them, though? Stats profs aren’t qualified, by and large, and faculty in other science departments aren’t likely to be motivated to supervise a project that isn’t theirs (and is likely not well designed, so won’t contribute to the field) done by a student who isn’t theirs (so also doesn’t really fulfill the training mission of the department). An RA semester where stats MS students are collecting empirical data for someone else, in contrast, seems like it could have legs. It’s not unheard of to hire grad assistants out of department, at least at my university, so this is just a somewhat novel twist on that accepted practice.
@emjonaitis It would be education. The credits are paid, just like any student doing electives. I teach intro psych to 100 of our own students, and 100 students of other departments. The motivation to teach them is cash 😁
@lakens Academic department politics must be very different at your institution!
Oliver D. Reithmaier@lakens all my stats slides have a "statistics is applied philosophy" disclaimer.
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