145 episodes

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.

Quantitude Greg Hancock & Patrick Curran

    • Science
    • 5.0 • 186 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.

    S5E19 Item Response Theory, Q.E.D.

    S5E19 Item Response Theory, Q.E.D.

    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, computer adaptive  testing on the playground, Bob’s your uncle, and the liberal arts mic drop. 
    Stay in contact with Quantitude!
    Twitter: @quantitudepod Web page: quantitudepod.org Merch: redbubble.com

    • 49 min
    S5E18 Probability on Spring Break

    S5E18 Probability on Spring Break

    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 pick-6 lotteries. 
    Stay in contact with Quantitude!
    Twitter: @quantitudepod Web page: quantitudepod.org Merch: redbubble.com

    • 44 min
    S5E17 Classification and Regression Trees with Yi Feng

    S5E17 Classification and Regression Trees with Yi Feng

    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, audio visualizations, overused tree analogies, rainbows & unicorns, rain in Los Angeles, and Moneyball.
    Stay in contact with Quantitude!
    Twitter: @quantitudepod Web page: quantitudepod.org Merch: redbubble.com

    • 50 min
    S5E16 Simpson's Paradox

    S5E16 Simpson's Paradox

    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 and heart attacks, and Double Super Secret whatever.
    Stay in contact with Quantitude!
    Twitter: @quantitudepod Web page: quantitudepod.org Merch: redbubble.com

    • 33 min
    S5E15 Classical Test Theory (in bed)

    S5E15 Classical Test Theory (in bed)

    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, important footnotes, working in your garden, being buck naked, Dark Side of the Moon, squarshing, deserving variance, and when the cops show up.
    Stay in contact with Quantitude!
    Twitter: @quantitudepod Web page: quantitudepod.org Merch: redbubble.com

    • 49 min
    S5E14 Regression to the Mean

    S5E14 Regression to the Mean

    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 being patronizing. 
    Stay in contact with Quantitude!
    Twitter: @quantitudepod Web page: quantitudepod.org Merch: redbubble.com

    • 34 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
186 Ratings

186 Ratings

meivera100mrivera ,

We don’t deserve this

The amount of knowledge you two have is statistically significantly different than zero. I cannot thank y’all enough for this podcast. Looking forward to many more years of listening.

@kyle__grealis ,

Don’t listen…

Unless you’re looking for a hilarious approach to understanding and appreciating statistics. Greg & Patrick have me binge-listening to catch up while I’m at my work desk, in my car, or wherever. A wealth of insight and plenty of everyday- and nerd-funny moments. Keep it up!!! Love it :)

Knickolaz ,

Even my kids love this show…

… and they don’t know or care about statistics. But apparently they know and care about first-class banter. Who would have thought that a podcast about statistics would leave members of my whole family entertained and/or enlightened?

Top Podcasts In Science

Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
Radiolab
WNYC Studios
Something You Should Know
Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media | Cumulus Podcast Network
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward
StarTalk Radio
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Science Vs
Spotify Studios

You Might Also Like

America Dissected
Crooked Media
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?'
KFF Health News
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward
Lost Women of Science
Lost Women of Science
Quanta Science Podcast
Quanta Magazine
Letters from an American
Heather Cox Richardson