timmyfitz 0 #126 March 14, 2009 QuoteQuoteActually I think 150 hrs and TWO institutions is too small a sample size. My experience has been quite different... That would be over 150 hours, and three institutions. It is a small sample size, as I previously stated. It is, however, beyond anecdotal example. No, it's anecdotal Definition: an·ec·dot·al (nk-dtl) Based on casual observations or indications rather than rigorous or scientific analysis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #127 March 14, 2009 QuoteNo, it's anecdotal It's a small sample, not merely an anecdotal observation. Had I made the claim based on a single class, or a single professor, that would have been anecdotal. However, with a sample of several dozen classes/professors taken without the question in mind, it's a small sample. Is the sample large enough to determine what percentage of professors are liberal versus conservative, or what percentage of professors attempt to push their own political ideology on students? No. Is the sample size large enough to reject a null hypothesis of college classes being taught primarily by liberal professors attempting to indoctrinate students in their liberal ways? Yes. Did I do such a study? Not formally. However, even informally, I can easily see that the null hypothesis is inconsistent with observations. Claiming such a collection of observations are merely anecdotal is like saying that experience counts for nothing unless it is done as part of scholarly research. For example, someone who has worked several years as an auto mechanic could be justified claiming that one make of automobile tends to be more reliable than another make, based on his experience of seeing far fewer of them in the shop for unscheduled maintenance, even though their rates of ownership and pricing are similar. That same mechanic would not be justified claiming that make A is 89.742% more reliable than make B based on those same observations.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #128 March 14, 2009 Quote It's a small sample, not merely an anecdotal observation. Had I made the claim based on a single class, or a single professor, that would have been anecdotal. However, with a sample of several dozen classes/professors taken without the question in mind, it's a small sample. It's a sample of one - you. Just like any one person's individual observations on a given subject. There's nothing remotely scientific about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #129 March 15, 2009 If you're claiming the observations are strictly anecdotal, that would be incorrect.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #130 March 15, 2009 QuoteIf you're claiming the observations are strictly anecdotal, that would be incorrect. well, as pointed out to you, if you're going to hold that claim, than you can't go spouting off in other threads about other people's personal opinions being merely anecdotal. It's eat your pie or keep it, not both. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #131 March 15, 2009 QuoteQuoteIf you're claiming the observations are strictly anecdotal, that would be incorrect. well, as pointed out to you, if you're going to hold that claim, than you can't go spouting off in other threads about other people's personal opinions being merely anecdotal. You seem to be having trouble understanding what sample means in comparison to anecdote.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #132 March 15, 2009 Quote You seem to be having trouble understanding what sample means in comparison to anecdote. at least I haven't forgotten the difference between data and datum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #133 March 15, 2009 Quoteat least I haven't forgotten the difference between data and datum. Your contributions to this thread certainly haven't demonstrated your ability to differentiate between the two terms.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #134 March 15, 2009 Your insistence on the last word isn't going to make your false claims true, you know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #135 March 15, 2009 QuoteYour insistence on the last word isn't going to make your false claims true, you know. Nor does your inability to understand the concept of sample size make the claim false. Hint: the sample size is not one, as you have claimed.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #136 March 15, 2009 like I said, if you want to count yourself as more than one person, you lose the ability to use that argument against others who do the same. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #137 March 16, 2009 Quotelike I said, if you want to count yourself as more than one person, you lose the ability to use that argument against others who do the same. Pssst … I'm not the sample in the example.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
