What is Simpson's paradox?

Simpson's paradox is a statistical phenomenon where trends appear different when data is grouped versus when it is considered in aggregate.

Why can't statistics alone resolve Simpson's paradox?

Statistics alone cannot resolve Simpson's paradox because understanding the causality involved is necessary to interpret the data correctly.

In the video's medical treatment example, what are two possible explanations for why the treatment appears beneficial when looking at subgroups but harmful when looking at the aggregate data?

One explanation is that humans get the disease more seriously and are therefore more likely to be prescribed treatment. Another explanation is that humans, regardless of how sick they are, are more likely to get treated than cats.

Explain how socioeconomic differences can contribute to Simpson's paradox, using the example of standardized test scores in Wisconsin and Texas.

Wisconsin has proportionally fewer black and hispanic students and proportionally more white students than Texas. Because race is a major factor in standardized-test scores, this can cause Wisconsin to have higher overall scores than Texas, even if Texas students perform better when broken down by race.

Describe a scenario, different from those in the video, where Simpson's paradox might occur.

A new teaching method might appear to improve student grades in individual classrooms, but when all classrooms are combined, the overall grades might decrease due to the method being implemented in more challenging classes.

Exploring Simpson's Paradox Lesson Plan for Grade 12th Grade

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Learning Objective

I can identify and explain Simpson's paradox using real-world examples.

1
Simpson's paradox is a statistical phenomenon where trends appear different depending on how data is grouped.
2
To resolve Simpson's paradox, it is important to consider causality and factors outside of the statistical data.
3
In the example comparing Texas and Wisconsin test scores, socioeconomic differences rather than educational quality explained the paradox.

Exploring Simpson's Paradox

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Learning Objective

Warm-Up Video

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