How ideas from decision theory can help guide our actions
Photo by Jan Genge on UnsplashThe UK is currently experiencing an infection wave following the…
Sylvia Richardson and David SpiegelhalterAugust 11, 2021
Applying “zones of influence” to social distancing in schools
Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on UnsplashSocial distancing is important in controlling the spread of Covid-19. This…
Does Taylor Swift have a big (and bad) reputation? Twitter scraping using R
"Big reputation, big reputation, ooh you and me we’ve got big reputations." Taylor Swift released her…
Jennifer SnapeOctober 16, 2018
Facebook data harvesting: what you need to know
Facebook makes most of its money from advertising, and – as the Cambridge Analytica scandal…
Gráinne Maedhbh Nic LochlainnApril 5, 2018
We, the millennials: The statistical significance of political significance
Kevin Lin, winner of the 2017 Statistical Excellence Award for Early-Career Writing, explores political engagement…
Kevin LinNovember 29, 2017
How data is transforming the music industry
Fifteen years ago, Steve Jobs introduced the iPod. Since then, most music fans have understood…
Brian MoonMay 24, 2017
EU referendum – how the polls got it wrong again
Estimating the likely outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU was…
John CurticeJune 27, 2016
How happiness is challenging GDP as the measure of a country’s health
Denmark reclaimed its place as the happiest country in the world, according to the latest…
Paul AnandMarch 23, 2016
Mind the gap: the digital divide and digital inclusion
Internet use is transforming almost every aspect of our public, private and work life. More…
David HirstSeptember 15, 2015
What does $4 million buy you at the Superbowl ad break?
The online technology revolution has set proverbial amongst the pigeons that make up the old…
Oz FlanaganJanuary 30, 2014
From science to advice: reinventing the scientific generalist (part two)
Solly Zuckerman (pictured) was meticulous in measuring things to assemble evidence when there was none,…
Thomas KingOctober 17, 2013
Statistical tests: beads for furs?
You have no doubt heard the legend about the Native American tribe being seduced by…
Altea Lorenzo-ArribasAugust 16, 2013
Syrian chemical warfare and Obama welfare cuts: measurement, retirement and war
A recent New York Times article stated that U.S. officials believe the Syrian government has…
Michael A. LewisApril 29, 2013
Classifying Higher Education Institutions
A few weeks ago ('Is social segregation rising across English universities?') we looked at how…
Andrew McCullochApril 12, 2013
Is social segregation rising across English universities?
As a reader pointed out last week Nick Clegg's son is going to the London…
Andrew McCullochMarch 27, 2013
Why do government ministers send their kids to private schools?
News reports indicate that British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will send his eldest son to a top comprehensive school…
Andrew McCullochMarch 19, 2013
George Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration
At New Year, I was reminded of how much heated argument can be generated when…
Andrew McCullochJanuary 21, 2013
