I college, I was taught and convinced that data analysis could do anything and that if you weren’t using it, it was because you weren’t smart enough to.
A decade later, I would say that besides throwing the datapoints up on a graph, it’s almost always useless.
1/n
A decade later, I would say that besides throwing the datapoints up on a graph, it’s almost always useless.
1/n
The world is too complex to gain understanding from a regression or other complicated mathematical formula.
Even randomized control trials, which people who operate in the real world almost never have access to, are often bullshit.
Even randomized control trials, which people who operate in the real world almost never have access to, are often bullshit.
Today, I think data analysis is mostly how people, namely academics and some professions, choose to communicate.
It’s sometimes useful, but also signaling to show that you’re part of a group.
If you want to be heard in that group, you must speak their language.
It’s sometimes useful, but also signaling to show that you’re part of a group.
If you want to be heard in that group, you must speak their language.
Where these people get into trouble is believing that data analysis is the only true way of figuring things out and that it can be used for everything.
That is a significant error which seems to afflict the fed and many of the spreadsheet jockeys on this app.
That is a significant error which seems to afflict the fed and many of the spreadsheet jockeys on this app.
A brief conversation with someone with experience or a mechanical first principles understanding of how things work are way more powerful than data analysis in the real world. And the faster you realize that the less time you’ll waste and the more money you’ll make.
/end
/end
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