The fallacy is assuming that statistic information about a thing is more relevant in dealing with a particular instance of that thing than available first-hand data.
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posted by CustooFintel
on Mar 12, 2013 -
17 answers
I have recently been introduced to the concept of
pseudoreplication as a mistake that people often make when using inferential statistics to evaluate treatment outcomes. My field (evolutionary and conservation biology) makes heavy use of inferential statistics, including techniques that are vulnerable to pseudoreplication, yet nowhere in my formal education have I been taught about how poor experimental design and lack of statistical rigor can lead to fallacies like this. My personal statistical proficiency is poor, but I am working to remedy that. To that end, could folks help me by identifying and ideally explaining whatever other potential pitfalls you can think of, and explaining how they can be avoided through careful experimental design and data-analysis?
posted by Scientist
on Jan 26, 2013 -
5 answers
Basic logic question. The validity of modus tollens is intuitive when the antecedent and consequent in the first conditional premise aren't negative statements. But whenever the argument begins with something like "If not-p, then q", the whole thing seems less intuitive to me. Can someone explain to my very rusty brain why those instances of modus tollens are still valid?
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posted by Beardman
on Jan 23, 2013 -
16 answers
Looking to turn the Winston Churchill quote, "Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm," into an equation.
posted by fubunker
on Dec 17, 2012 -
16 answers
My older Mac mini cant handle my music making needs anymore.
I use it to run Logic, Reason, and many soft synths. as well as record
8 channels of audio and applying effects etc.
I am not sure if I should get an Imac or a MacBook Pro.
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posted by digividal
on Aug 19, 2012 -
15 answers
I'm reading the book
Monoculture by FS Michaels, which describes how what the author calls "the economic story," which she sees as dominant in our culture and as having replaced earlier dominant stories rooted in religion and science, is shaping people's work, communities, education, and relationships. In the book, Michaels talks about how "as the economic story spreads to government, a language based on economics develops along with a new way of thinking and reasoning about what goes on in government -- a kind of accounting logic. That accounting logic makes two assumptions: first, that anything and everything your government does can be assessed in terms of what value is added, and second, that the value added can be linked to how much money is spent on the activity in the first place." Etc. My question is: in this context, what does the phrase "accounting logic" mean?
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posted by Susan PG
on Jul 7, 2012 -
5 answers
If we award medals for swimming 100m backstroke why don't we award medals for running 100m backwards?
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posted by Cosine
on Jun 15, 2012 -
48 answers
What is the most effective method of persuasion? Can I/how can I apply the best ones? I would love an in-depth, research-supported answer... anecdotes are also fine but I do have some personal caveats that I suspect will complicate things.
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posted by six-or-six-thirty
on May 2, 2012 -
19 answers
Please help me find the critical thinking textbook my grade-school class used in the early eighties.
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posted by hydrophonic
on Mar 11, 2012 -
3 answers
I got Logic Studio and installed it on my Mac, then realized I should have installed a bunch of the files onto an external hard drive instead of my computer's hard drive. I thought I would do a complete uninstall and then reinstall the way I should have initially, but from my research, it seems uninstalling Logic is kind of a big, scary deal. Can you please walk me through how to fix this situation using small, easy-to-understand words?
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posted by pupstocks
on Nov 25, 2011 -
8 answers
Logic Pro 9 question: suddenly when I bounce a song from Logic to my desktop (in .aif format) and then try to play in iTunes, it will import into iTunes, but it won't play. I'm relatively new to logic, but I've done this before with no problems. What gives?
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posted by Lutoslawski
on Oct 30, 2011 -
5 answers
This is a question about intelligently discrediting racist defences, with specific regard to the statement "I'm not racist, some of my best friends are black."
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posted by The Discredited Ape
on Aug 14, 2011 -
34 answers
What are some activities that exercise visual or structural type thinking? Something to do with science, technology, or 3-dimensions preferred. I'm looking for puzzles, hobbies, or other activities that might be performed through an actual job that I'm just not aware of. As examples, auto-mechanics classes and memorizing anatomy books immediately comes to mind.
posted by Giggilituffin
on Aug 4, 2011 -
9 answers
Despite having an engineering degree, a Master's degree in software development, a strong math background, and 20+ years of programming experience the "typical" logic games bore me. Why and how can I improve?
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posted by mcarthey
on Jul 17, 2011 -
23 answers
Is there an established and credible short-hand counter-argument to "you have to have kids to understand"?
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posted by Kitteh
on Mar 7, 2011 -
54 answers
I'm trying to express my love for a certain dessert in a math/logic formula.
I have this:
π > ∼π , which I take to mean "Pi is greater than not Pi", and this:
π > ∞-π, which I take to mean "Pi is greater than Everything but Pi". Do these make any sense or hold up in any legit way?
posted by TheCoug
on Mar 5, 2011 -
15 answers
How can I determine the optimal scenario to get through imaginary radio station contest hell and earn the fictional prize.
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posted by jpcody
on Mar 2, 2011 -
10 answers
Help this musician get started with home recording. I've written lots of music and its time to get it recorded. I have basically zero equipment and zero knowledge, so start me from the beginning.
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posted by Khalad
on Feb 22, 2011 -
15 answers
I recently read through the Problem Sleuth section of
MS Paint Adventures and loved it to pieces. However, it reminded me that the kind of logic employed in
adventure game puzzles has always flustered me. Are there any good resources that pull back the curtain on how these kinds of logic/linear thinking puzzles are constructed? I've seen or played loads of examples, but never seen anything that really breaks them down into their components.
posted by Lentrohamsanin
on Jan 14, 2011 -
4 answers
I have a learning disability (dyscalculia/mathematics disorder). Could I handle the formal language component of an undergrad Introduction to Logic class?
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posted by autoclavicle
on Nov 23, 2010 -
19 answers
Assuming knowledge of the theory behind logic gates and computation, when was the earliest people could have built a working working general purpose computer? Or to put it another way, imagine a modern day chip designer is trapped on a deserted island with no access to modern technology, but access to any necessary natural resources that he could acquire by himself, how could he go about building a general purpose computer to pass the time?
posted by empath
on Sep 29, 2010 -
20 answers
What do you call this kind of riddle? More importantly, can you tell me a few more of them?
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posted by Zaximus
on Sep 7, 2010 -
36 answers
Is there a term for back-arguing a conclusion? I can't even find the proper words to describe the method of argumentation I'm thinking of, but I'll do my best.
Someone comes to a conclusion. They then search for a justification to reach that end, working backwards and incorrectly. Here's a real life example:
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posted by Brittanie
on Aug 29, 2010 -
29 answers
Why don't people take medicine for things like headaches, pains, whatever, and why does it frustrate me so much when people close to me don't?
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posted by tweedle
on Jun 24, 2010 -
61 answers
I'm participating in a public debate in a few weeks, the topic of which is, "Resolved: The Real ID Act should be repealed." Despite my personal views (which are pretty strongly liberal), I've been assigned to argue against the resolution, meaning I have to support the Real ID act.
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posted by crookedgrin
on Apr 21, 2010 -
10 answers
Teaching Filter: I'm doing a unit for 11th graders on persuasive writing and would like to include a lesson on logical fallacies. Ideally, I would like to illustrate these with video. However, I have neither the time nor the google fu to locate them all. So Hivemind, can you find me famous examples of logical fallacies on video?
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posted by FakePalindrome
on Mar 14, 2010 -
14 answers
Is there a specific name for a logical fallacy where the lack of evidence for something (or the abundance of evidence its opposite) is claimed to actually support the assertion? An example might be claiming that the lack of evidence of a conspiracy is actually evidence of the conspiracy and/or its size and strength.
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posted by spaltavian
on Feb 24, 2010 -
19 answers
Is there a name for the argumentative strategy where somebody claims moral high ground by declaring, for example, that "you are all hypocrites, but so am I, and at least I admit it", while then going on to use this as a platform for further criticisms? Is it simple self-righteousness, or something more?
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posted by jokeefe
on Feb 13, 2010 -
17 answers
I'm looking for logic puzzles/games/systems similar to
logic grid puzzles that are mostly deductive, pure logic, but that are more "realistic" or at least tell a more tangible story. Do such things exist? Also, how to construct your own and use them in a narrative structure?
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posted by DetonatedManiac
on Feb 12, 2010 -
8 answers
A lively discussion has come to a screeching halt, but I don't want it to. Help me continue the debate!
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posted by tdreyer
on Feb 5, 2010 -
25 answers
How can you tell if your reactions and emotions are rational and logical, and if you're expressing them in a rational and logical manner?
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posted by elder18
on Jan 21, 2010 -
28 answers
