Nanne Postma
Why the other line is always faster
We have all been there. You stand in the supermarket, scanning the checkout landscape like a grandmaster surveying a chessboard. You spot it: the short line. Three people, modest baskets, a cashier who looks caffeinated. You commit. Two minutes later, the woman in the “long” line next to you is already paying and leaving. Meanwhile, your cashier has called for a price check on an unscannable item, and the person in front of you is counting out pennies. At that point it no longer feels like bad luck, but like the world is against you. But as it turns out, your frustration isn't just a mood; it’s a fascinating intersection of psychology, social justice, and cold, hard probability.
Simpson's paradox: when more data leads you astray
Imagine you are evaluating the effect of a job training program across genders. In both men and women separately, the program seems to help; but when you pool the data, the effect vanishes or reverses. That’s not just annoying, it can completely mislead your inference if you don’t look out for lurking variables. Welcome to the simpson’s paradox, a really weird and frustrating statistical phenomenon.
Looking back at the VII VESTING Lustrum: Voyage
I hope you all had an incredible time during the lustrum week this past April. For those who couldn’t be there, this is the perfect chance to catch up on all the unforgettable activities that took place. And for those who were there—it’s time to relive some of the memories that made the week so special.