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Quantitude

190 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 9 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 181 ratings

A podcast dedicated to all things quantitative, ranging from the relevant to the highly irrelevant. Co-hosts Patrick Curran and Greg Hancock talk about serious statistical topics, but without taking themselves too seriously. Think: CarTalk hi-jacked by the two grumpy old guys from the Muppets, grousing about quantitative methods, statistics, and data analysis, all presented to you with the production value of a 6th grade school project. But in a good way.

Social Sciences Science Natural Sciences quantitative statistics research methods science education psychology social sciences methodology scientific method data
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Episodes

S5E23 A Rosetta Stone for DAGs and SEM

April 30, 2024 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick talk about both structural equation modeling and directed acyclic graphs, or DAGs, where they are similar and where they are different, and try to provide a Rosetta Stone for translating back and forth between the two. Along the way they also discuss pop, garage sales, thinking about excessive thought, roly-polies, potato bugs, been to the cinema, sweet tea, smiley face sub-i, poop hat, the British Museum, fiberglass replicas, love languages, cave draw...

S5E22 Survival Analysis in the Social Sciences: It's About Time

April 23, 2024 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg explore the incredibly cool topic of survival analysis, which is a set of techniques that allows for powerful tests of predictors of the amount of time to experiencing an event; yet these models are not often used in many areas of study. Along the way they also discuss the date of your death, running with scissors, Patrick's Audi A8, because she's dead, say my name, the good guys, things that annoy me, you tell me, using your brain, sofa forts, back da...

S5E21 Multilevel Factor Analysis: But What Do The Factors Mean?!

April 09, 2024 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MB

In this week's episode, Greg and Patrick talk about the challenges of combining confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel data, and the underappreciated but absolutely critical role that theory plays in choosing the proper model for your constructs. Along the way they also discuss learning in a second language, torn meniscuseseses, concert C trumpets, nosy neighbors, forts of equations, artillery commanders, saluting cadets, the huffing closet, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Rock'em Sock'em Robots,...

S5E20 Local fit...Because Global Fit Measures Suck!

April 02, 2024 04:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick discuss the assessment of global vs. local model fit and they argue that although global measures of fit can be useful, carefully assessing local fit may be of much greater importance in practice. Along the way the also discuss cheap beach house rentals, misplaced sand dunes, Mrs. Lincoln, the child catcher, hushpuppies, cockroach feces, academia as community theater, spikes and smoodges, opening paragraphs, dark and stormy nights, sharp rusty knives, ...

S5E19 Item Response Theory, Q.E.D.

March 19, 2024 04:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg provide an introduction to the Item Response Theory model: what it is, how it relates to traditional factor analysis, and how this modem approach improves upon some of the limitations of classical test theory.  Along the way they also mention weinerness, memorizing Latin for punishment, eggszampke, in ether words, ITR, switching a and b, I’m not defensive - you are, why biostatisticians hate us (page 3 subsection 8), binary babble, EAPs and MAPs, compu...

S5E18 Probability on Spring Break

March 12, 2024 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MB

In this week’s episode, Patrick and Greg play with some of the basics of probability in the context of some classic, fun, and often counterintuitive examples.  Along the way they also discuss arguments with relatives, a feel for the roulette wheel, Xeroxing your butt, “The coin has spoken.”, Quantitude BooqQlub, the Bellagio Fountains, Clooney and Pitt look-alikes, the Flippier, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Monty Hall, Ferraris and goats, the birthday problem, how to carve an elephant, and ...

S5E17 Classification and Regression Trees with Yi Feng

February 27, 2024 05:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick are honored to visit with Yi Feng, a quantitative methodologist at UCLA, as she helps them understand classification and regression tree analysis. She describes the various ways in which these models can be used, and how these can serve to inform both prediction and explanation. Along the way they also discuss looking pensive, drunken 3-way interactions, Stephen Hawking, parlor tricks, Cartman, validation, dragon boats, anxiety, spam filters, hair loss...

S5E16 Simpson's Paradox

February 20, 2024 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick talk about Simpson’s Paradox: what it is, examples of where it occurs in real life, and why we might not really need to think about it as a paradox at all.  Along the way they also discuss Apple Vision, The Simpsons predicting the future, sitting too close to the TV, low levels of radiation, Paul the octopus, Blinky, shtuff, duck duck duck, Jonathan the tortoise, batting averages, bad at fractions, Cal Berkeley admissions, GDP and happiness, exercise a...

S5E15 Classical Test Theory (in bed)

February 06, 2024 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick take a walk down memory lane to rediscover classical test theory,  although they revisit this through the lens of modern latent variable models. They describe how these classical methods are actually highly restricted latent measurement models and they explore how these restrictions can be relaxed and even tested. Along the way they also discuss weird dates, free Tupperware, yellow fatty beans, advice cookies, in bed, scalloped tiles, scales at NASA, i...

S5E14 Regression to the Mean

January 30, 2024 05:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg launch a new occasional series called Stuff You Should Know. The topic for today is regression to the mean: what the heck is it, how does it arise in every day life, and what can we do about it. Along the way they also discuss the space-time continuum, Kai Ryssdal, inflation, witches of MacBeth, the hidden curriculum, oh dang, sh*t (ummm...STUFF) you should know, SAT prep courses, the triumph of mediocrity, angstroms, blobs. reinventing history, and be...

S5E13 The Confidence Interval's Tale

January 23, 2024 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick talk about confidence intervals: symmetric and asymmetric, asymptotic and bootstrapped, how to interpret them, and how not to interpret them. Along the way they also mention tire pressure gauge mysteries, conference travel reimbursement, phases of the moon, gyroscopic effects, baseball walk-of-shame, why people hate us, settling out of court, confidence tricks, Mack JcArdle, Shakespearean means, lipstick on a pig, the cat rating scale, the Miller's Tal...

S5E12 Meta-Analysis With Paschal Sheeran

January 16, 2024 05:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg have great fun talking about meta-analysis with Paschal Sheeran, a social psychologist from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He describes what meta-analysis is, what it offers, and how to apply it in your own work. Along the way they also discuss taking off into the north vs the south, flipping people off, being subtle, metaphysics, say my name, most effective tactic available, fleeing Ireland, struggling to fit in, falling off a bus, t...

S5E11 Statistical Ideas That Die Hard

December 12, 2023 05:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MB

In this week's episode, marking the fifth Quantitude Holiday Celebration, Greg and Patrick argue about their favorite holiday movies, including whether Die Hard counts as one or not; they then proceed to discuss several statistical ideas that also seem to Die Hard. Along the way they talk about so much gibberish that we don't even bother listing it here. Stay in contact with Quantitude! Twitter: @quantitudepod Web page: quantitudepod.org Merch: redbubble.com

S5E10 Nonlinear Latent Growth Curve Models (Taylor's Version)

December 05, 2023 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick explore alternative parameterizations of the SEM-based latent curve model to capture various forms of nonlinearity, some that are approximations and others that are exact. Along the way they also discuss Swifties, remastering your life, bull testicles, the world's worst RA job, Yerkes-Dodson law, show a little ankle, the St. Louis Arch, bachelorette parties, deck screws, DIY-ing a model, being a little too quiet, complete nonsense, blasting your pecs, ...

S5E09 Regularized Variable Selection Methods

November 28, 2023 05:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB

In today’s episode Greg and Patrick talk about regularization, which includes ridge, LASSO, and elastic net procedures for variable selection within the general linear model and beyond. Along the way they also mention Bowdlerizing, The Family Shakespeare, disturbance in the force, McNeish on his bike, Spandex, C’mon guys wait up, the altar of unbiasedness, Curranizing, shooting arrows, stepwise goat rodeo, volume knobs, Hancockizing, always angry, getting slapped, betting a chicken, mission ...

S5E08 Confirmatory Composite Analysis: Enter the Hexagon

November 14, 2023 05:00 - 48 minutes - 33.7 MB

In today’s episode, Greg and Patrick dig into Confirmatory Composite Analysis, a very clever way to get formative factors and their causal indicators into the traditional structural equation modeling framework, along with any other latent factors and their effect indicators that might already be in the model. Along the way they also mention full-contact Wordle, being grounded, spelling bees, state capitals, definitions of leadership, a many ways, rabbit or duck, set of steak knives, canonica...

S5E07 Perspectives on Formative Factors & Causal Indicators

November 07, 2023 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MB

In today’s episode, Patrick and Greg talk about the challenge of having causal indicators of formative factors within an analytical framework that is historically dominated by effect indicators and latent factors — and the critical importance of getting your arrows right. Along the way they also mention: self help books, habits, Hagrid and the giants, When Arrows Attack, The Handbook of SEM, the evil eye factor, defining your terms, the meaning of IS, minority reports, putting your fist thro...

S5E06 Advanced Factor Structures

October 31, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MB

In today’s episode, Patrick and Greg talk about fun extensions to the basic confirmatory factor model, including higher order models, bifactor or residualized models, and multitrait-multimethod models. Along the way they also mention microscope lab, burning ants, substitute teaching, Cool or Creepy?, Monet, Clueless, haystacks, hotdogs, What are you thinking?, pennies and pounds, party like it’s 1904, potluck freeloaders, lips and a**holes, promiscuous models, and shock absorbers.  Stay in ...

S5E05 Multilevel Models Unleashed

October 17, 2023 04:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MB

In this week’s episode Greg and Patrick take advantage of the recent expiration of a statute of limitations that legally allows them to talk about the multilevel model: what it is, when we might use it, and extremely cool extensions that it allows. Along the way they also discuss hostile federal judges, McNeish, airing of grievances, Gauss and Markov’s corpses, Sesame Street, distributional baguettes, naivete, sentient GLMs, two pencil necks, Thor’s Hammer, Willy Sutton, Siren’s Song, peer g...

S5E04 Dissertations: Quant Ideas From Actual Experts

October 10, 2023 04:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg enlist the help of six quantitative methodological scholars, who share a wide variety of fertile ground for quantitative research, which should be useful for students seeking dissertation topics as well as anyone interested in active methodological areas. Along the way they also mentioned: Kill Bill, The Waltons (with corpses), taking away grandpa's car keys, needing an avocado, Patrick's paygrade, clean-up hitters, unhinged Tweeting, promiscuous model...

S5E03 The DON'Ts and DOs of the Dissertation

September 26, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg plumb the depths of what is a dissertation and what purpose does it serve. They are aided in the use of an AI language interpreter to translate old man grousing to positive and supportive advice for students as they discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a dissertation project. Along the way they also mention: pumpkin spice, marching bands, Maximus Decimus Meridius, Hiccup, being like too American, OMG, anger interpreters, patience and self-restraint,...

S5E02 Multicollinearity: The Usual Suspect

September 19, 2023 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MB

In this week’s episode, Greg and Patrick talk about the terrifying, the feared, the dreaded … Multicollinearity. Blamed for a multitude of general linear model problems, they dare to ask the question: “But should it be?” Along the way they also mention: having your stump ground out, fall guys, Keyser Soze, croissants and breadsticks, baguettes in space space space, mostly dead, the Cliffs of Moher, enablers, dangling on a wing and a prayer, nanotech R-squareds, opening a suitcase, reinventin...

S5E01 Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curves

September 12, 2023 04:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MB

In this week's episode, the first of Season 5, Patrick and Greg explore the very cool world of receiver operating characteristic, or ROC, curves: what they are, how they work, and why we can give partial thanks to Winston Churchill for their existence. Along the way they also mention: advent calendars, lasagna for 8, Honey Nut Cheerios, radio detection and ranging, flock of seagulls, broken pun promises, Dwayne Johnson, the whale petting machine, Embassy Suites, poison ivy and kudzu, sexy Hu...

S4E25 Cluster Analysis

May 30, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

In the last episode of season 4, Greg and Patrick discuss the very cool exploratory technique of cluster analysis — including concepts of multivariate distance, hierarchical and non-hierarchical methods, and how it differs from mixture models. Along the way they also mention: Scandinavian architects, raccoons on meth, vegetarian hotdogs, sh*t-ton of do-loops, free-range jam, statistical hairballs, Euclid’s burial, the platypus problem, stars and galaxies, stealing from the hard sciences, ung...

S4E24 Longitudinal Measurement Invariance

May 16, 2023 04:00 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg talk about the critical and often unmet assumptions underlying the use of measured variables at multiple time points, whether for simple analyses like tests of means or more complex analyses like modeling individual growth. Along the way they also mention: following your blocker, Pascal’s wager, Wikipedia empathy, ham sandwich syllogisms, flying cattle cars, Kennedy babies, Costco bathroom scales, Spirit Airlines, expecting you to bring wine, crying ab...

S4E23 QuantCrit: A Conversation With Christen Priddie

May 02, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick are joined by Christen Priddie of Indiana University who will help them learn a bit about QuantCrit: its foundations, its purpose, and how it can enrich the quantitative methods process to which we might have become a little *too* accustomed.  Along the way they also mention unknown unknowns, explaining the ocean, young Pat, cackling, how Greg pays for college, crap with a number, too young for the Muppets, grumpy old men, crowbar in the brain, bad map...

S4E22 April Fools! Quantitative Things That Fool Us

March 28, 2023 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MB

In honor of April Fool's Day, this week's episode is about being fooled, specifically quantitative things that can fool you, accompanied by some classic songs about being fooled.  Along the way, Greg and Patrick also mention ukus, the spaghetti harvest, sucker!, meet the new boss, traditions of doing things wrong, naked garbage bag poker, old man rants, rich Facebook friends, The Scarlet R, ar-ar-ar-ar-ar, bugs versus features, sucking statistically significantly less, farewell tours, seabir...

S4E21 Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling

March 14, 2023 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg talk about exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), a technique drawing upon the strengths of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods and able to be embedded within structural equation models. Along the way they also mention crab vs. crabs, Most Dangerous Catch, Next Day Blinds, smash-and-grab, sharp pencils, opening the barn doors, stinking badges, all hat and no cattle, control issues, quieting the Irishmen, oxymorons, selling fa...

S4E20 Dynamic Structural Equation Models with Ellen Hamaker

March 07, 2023 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick talk with Dr. Ellen Hamaker from Utrecht University about the exciting and growing area of dynamic structural equation models. They discuss its tremendous substantive and methodological promise as well its assumptions and potential limitations. Along the way they also mention talking in acronyms, QSEM, cowardly bathroom stall phone calls, statistical sock puppets, interrupting Patrick, outsourcing, John Wick, copy machines, I want a cookie, bad clinica...

S4E19 The Dark Art of Regression Diagnostics

February 21, 2023 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg discuss the dark art of using regression diagnostics to assess how well assumptions are met in the general linear model, with applications to the wide array of related techniques. Along the way they also mention Big Pharma, Merriam-Webster, free-radical opioids, baguettes, antisocial personality disorder, Elon Musk, yoinked, Trinity and Neo, your favorite child, Reservoir Dogs, your favorite parent, ATM machines and PIN numbers, and standing in the cor...

S4E18 The Latent Variable Interaction Files

February 14, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MB

In this week's episode, Greg and Patrick talk about what you can do when latent variables conspire to multiplicatively interact, focusing on the classic product indicator approach and the more recently developed method of  latent moderated structural relations. Along the way they also mention confession, being hardly sorry, conspiracy theories, Greg's area 51 poster, trashed record needles, backwards messages, the Scooby Doo Gang, Street Justice Velma, tasteful ascots, chocolate in my peanut...

S4E17 Variable Transformations: Box-Cox, Fox in Socks

February 07, 2023 05:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg discuss variable transformations, both linear and non-linear, and explore the potential pros and cons of using these in applied research settings. Along the way they also mention prank phone calls, English drama, rapping Dr. Seuss, persnickety estimation, weekly banana intake, it don't make no never mind, Jeffrey Bezos, the square root of .5, leverage out the wazoo, Sexy Hulk and Rage Hulk, frowny-face plots, a barn full of methods, the actual analysis...

S4E16 Discovering the False Discovery Rate

January 31, 2023 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg talk about an alternative to familywise Type I error control, the false discovery rate, and how it offers increased power in that middle ground between no error control and the severe control of Bonferroni.  Along the way they also mention: Leif Ericson, discovering Columbus, The Flintstones, brontosauri, dying grandmas, Coors Field homeruns, hitting Richard, more Calvinball, the power reaper, Thelma and Louise, making flights on time, intellectual jud...

S4E15 Flipping Our Hypotheses to Test Equivalence

January 24, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick discuss how we might flip the traditional null and alternative hypothesis testing procedures to move us from tests of literal equality to tests of practical equivalence. Along the way they also discuss tough love, horseshoes and hand-grenades, Patrick’s Driving School, Cheyenne Mountain, So Long and Thanks For All the Fish, isn't that convenient, why people hate us, systolic blood pressure, *real* doctors, I Can’t Drive 55, splash zones, Gallagher, Dil...

S4E14 Growth Trajectory Estimates...What's My Line?

January 17, 2023 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg explore all the ways they lie about things when they teach, not the least of which is that there are actually no individual growth trajectories estimated in an individual trajectory growth model. They discuss why this is, how individual trajectory estimates can be obtained, and how these might be used in practice. Along the way they also mention the green light button, developmental milestones, love for semicolons, Jack Nicholson, baskets of data, Opra...

S4E13 Model-Based Power Analysis… The Power of *What*

January 10, 2023 05:00 - 54 minutes - 37.1 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick revisit a topic they addressed in their 2nd-ever episode: statistical power. Here they continue their discussion by attempting to clarify the power of what, and they explore ways of obtaining meaningful power estimates using the structural equation modeling framework. Along the way they also discuss tearing arms off, German dentists, booby prizes, Dr. Strangelove, making it look like an accident, shrug emojis, the whale petting machine, baseball and wa...

S4E12 Secret Father Christmas Actually

December 20, 2022 05:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MB

In this week's episode the employees of Quantitude International, including some very special guests, treat Greg and Patrick to a Secret Santa (ahem....secret Father Christmas) office party that they will not soon forget. Along the way they also mention mince meat pies, bangers, gits and tossers, Qurling (trademark pending), Vengeance Spice, hostage negotiation, Kevlar, Cantucky, Gerkins, tasing lemurs, lobsters vs. crabs, names for short, and Giffy.  Stay in contact with Quantitude! Twitt...

S4E11 The Centrality of Noncentral Distributions

December 06, 2022 05:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MB

In today’s episode, Patrick and Greg talk about those critical distributions that often go un-discussed -- noncentral distributions -- including their relation to the more familiar central distributions, their role in power and sample size determination, and how they are used in assessing data-model fit. Along the way they also mention back porch reading, latent class of one, statistical concepts as personality characteristics,  double doink, Brilliant!, cocktail party banter, reaching into ...

S4E10 Test Driving Model Identification

November 29, 2022 05:00 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MB

In today’s episode, Greg and Patrick talk about model under-, just-, and over-identification, starting with the algebraic foundations and moving into implications for the practice of structural equation modeling. Along the way they also mention shagging cars, new Ferraris, bank statements, prerecorded reactions, Quantitude implied contract, necessary & sufficient, walk of shame, Patrick’s Roz impression, working with explosives, potluck freeloaders, fixing a loading to your home address, and...

S4E09 Intensive Longitudinal Data: Be Careful What You Wish For

November 15, 2022 05:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MB

 In today's episode Patrick and Greg talk about that sweet spot between panel designs and time series designs, intensive longitudinal data — both the logistical and analytical challenges, but more importantly its tremendous potential.  Along the way they also mention camp fire face-plants, fear of horses, your spare eyelid, polishing your Nobel Prize, ripples in a pond, lick'm-sir, August 14th, the basketball effect, Southwest boarding number B14, high school math teacher apologies, open mic...

S4E08 Missing Data: The New State Of The Art With Craig Enders

November 08, 2022 05:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick get to explore modern methods for missing data analysis while belaboring quotes from Top Gun with their guest Craig Enders from the University of California at Los Angeles. Craig looks back over the past 20 years of developments in missing data analysis to discuss what has worked, what hasn't worked, and what new methods are available now that we didn't have back then. Along the way they also discuss Sean, Not Sean, going to the movies, grumpy old man ...

S4E07 The Quanti-House of Horror

October 25, 2022 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MB

In this week's Halloween-themed episode, Patrick and Greg have fun talking about things in their academic jobs that scare them, from things that are a little scary to things that they find absolutely terrifying. Along the way they also discuss Mrs. Kopicky's caramel popcorn balls, Wolf of Wall Street, Kenny T, forgetting you've told a story before, forgetting you've told a story before, recurring nightmares, bending but not breaking, the zeta of teaching, Royale with Cheese, necessary roughn...

S4E06 Building the Model You Want: With Laser Cannons!

October 18, 2022 04:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick talk about the frequent gap between research questions and methods and ways to think about reengineering your variables, your parameters, or your entire model to help get what you want. Along the way they also mention: living in the dorms, Greek god sculpture rockets, not living in the dorms, Christmas tree timers, Def Leppard, Legos, Annie's flower shop, laser cannons, chin music, the tail wagging the dog, the Millennium Falcon, Greenday, stupid human...

S4E05 Moderated Nonlinear Factor Analysis: A Conversation with Dan Bauer

October 11, 2022 04:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg spend a wonderful, if not at times awkward, hour talking with Dan Bauer about the genesis, application, and future directions of what may be the world's worst acronym: MNLFA, or moderated nonlinear factor analysis. Along the way they also mention unsolicited help from teenagers, gold stars, acronyms, words that start with "ci", aggressive mice, manipulating your advisors, 2nd spouses, MoNoLiFa, Quantitube, rewiring your brain, $1M calculators, and mod ...

S4E04 Partial Least Squares: Straight Outta Uppsala

October 04, 2022 04:00 - 55 minutes - 38.5 MB

In this week's episode Greg and Patrick talk about partial least squares, a technique that resembles structural equation modeling but with a lot of flexibility, including but not limited to its ability to accommodate both reflective and formative constructs. Along the way they also mention dark RedBubble, Sheep’s Kin, snorting SEM, the Coors Light beer bong, Hotelling's ghost, Larry the Cable Guy, the Marvel Metaverse, the Evil Eye, Badluck Schleprock, fika, Abba, and pieces left on the tabl...

S4E03 Two-Stage Least Squares Strikes Back

September 27, 2022 04:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg explore the often neglected method of two-stage least squares; they take a walk down memory lane to explore its origins and then drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st century for much promising use within the latent variable model. Along the way they also mention magic dishwashers, being under-estimated, blind pigs & truffles, Sadie Hawkins, intellectual spinning hook kicks, Fisher's eight-pack abs, the fine print, Winston Churchill vs. Chewbacca...

S4E02 Underachievers, Overachievers, & Maximum Likelihood Estimation

September 20, 2022 04:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MB

This week Patrick and Greg talk about maximum likelihood estimation: what it is, where it comes from, how it works, what it can do, and what it can't do. Along they way they also mention tour-bombing your kid, licking the turtle, Van Halen and AC/DC, orange mustaches, brandy snifter pong, bus #27, Ronnie Fisher, why people hate us, circus tents, night parachuting, flat spots, lazy parabolas, vanilla ice cream, and statistical bouncers.  Stay in contact with Quantitude! Twitter: @quantitude...

S4E01 Ordinary Least Squares: Back Where It All Began

September 13, 2022 04:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MB

In the opening episode to Season 4, Greg and Patrick delve into ordinary least squares estimation: where it came from, what it attempts to achieve, and where it can take us from here. Along the way they also discuss Golden Retrievers who are neither golden nor retrieve, Olivia Newton-John, sub-conning out their own work,  the meat sweats, sh*t you should know, being intolerably self-righteous, losing your camel, saying ham in French, Calvinball, Frank finding Gauss's corpse, crudely describi...

S3E28: The Challenges & Joys of Academia

May 10, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MB

In this, their 100th episode and Season 3 finale, Greg and Patrick talk about the challenges and joys of a career in academia. Helping to ensure that we don’t let the bastards grind us down are the voices of three insightful assistant professors and three wonderful graduate students. Along the way, we also mention lining up the napkin, hug free zones, margarita night in 2003, relying on the kindness of strangers, Strunk & White voodoo, a mile-high C, Mr. October, going beyond the veil, the B...

S3E27: Propensity Scores -- I Meant To Do That!

April 19, 2022 04:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MB

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg get to hang out with Noah Greifer from the Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences at Harvard University to delve into the fascinating world of propensity scores: what they are, how we obtain them, and how they can be thoughtfully used to strengthen our causal inferences. Along the way we also mention Popular Woodworking, fixing things on the back end, hiding your own Easter eggs, 18 hour warnings, easy undergrad majors, Meyers-Briggs career predict...

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@quantitudepod 86 Episodes