Statistical Skewing
P-hacking is a new way people can manipulate data to show correlations between variables—variables that actually have no correlation whatsoever.
Watch the P-Hacking: Crash Course Statistics #30 video for a more thorough understanding.
Then, look at Spurious Correlations: Graphs Show Correlation Between Completely Unrelated Stats, or read 10 Crazy Correlations Between Unrelated Things, which show p-hacking in action.
Additionally, watch this Rethinking Research Data TED Talk video. If you are interested in politics and want to try p-hacking for yourself, use the Hack Your Way to Scientific Glory website to find trends between the two major political parties in the United States.
P-hacking is a way to tell the truth in a mathematical sense by finding correlations. In your initial discussion post, answer the following question:
Do you think p-hacking is ethical?
How can the media and/or society respond to this issue in an informed way?
How might it impact our daily lives?
How should this new information impact you as a researcher (in your line of work or in your degree)?
Sample Solution
P-hacking is a statistical practice of repeatedly running statistical tests on data until a desired outcome is obtained. This can be done by changing the data, the statistical test, or the analysis methods. P-hacking can lead to false positives, which are findings that suggest a statistically significant relationship between two variables when there is no actual relationship.
I do not think p-hacking is ethical. It is a form of data manipulation that can lead to misleading results. P-hacking can also be used to support a particular viewpoint or agenda, even if the data does not support it.
Full Answer Section
There are a few things that the media and society can do to respond to the issue of p-hacking in an informed way. First, journalists and other media outlets should be aware of the potential for p-hacking and should be critical of studies that report statistically significant results. Second, scientists should be transparent about their data and methods, and they should be willing to share their data with other researchers for independent verification. Third, funding agencies should require researchers to register their studies before they begin collecting data, and they should also require researchers to share their data and methods after the study is complete. P-hacking can impact our daily lives in a number of ways. For example, it can be used to justify the use of ineffective medical treatments or to support policies that are not based on sound evidence. P-hacking can also lead to the suppression of negative findings, which can prevent us from learning about the true risks and benefits of certain interventions. As a researcher, I am committed to conducting ethical research. I will not engage in p-hacking or any other form of data manipulation. I will also be transparent about my data and methods, and I will share my data with other researchers for independent verification. I believe that it is important to conduct research that is accurate and reliable, and I will do my part to ensure that my work meets these standards. Here are some additional thoughts on the issue of p-hacking:- P-hacking is a serious problem that can undermine the integrity of scientific research.
- It is important for researchers to be aware of the potential for p-hacking and to take steps to avoid it.
- The media and society also have a role to play in raising awareness of p-hacking and in demanding that researchers conduct ethical research.
- We need to find ways to prevent p-hacking and to ensure that the public can trust the results of scientific research.