http://www.tylervigen.com/

From Stefan Conrady, Bayesialabs:

I’d be happy to share my thoughts regarding your proposed analytics program. Some time ago, NYU reached out to me as they were planning their Masters in Business Analytics program. 

One of the key points I shared with NYU at the time was that the industry needs “general reasoning practitioners,” not more specialist data miners. I envision the role of a “reasoning practitioner,” would have a deep understanding of modeling and inference, like a biostatistician or epidemiologist, combined with knowledge of probabilistic decision-making, like an Operations Researcher. We need folks that can correctly operationalize inference. 

This is not to be confused with the cliche of “actionable data.” In today’s practice in corporations, “acting on data" typically means that inference is generated from data and then "tossed over as a deterministic finding" to a decision maker who brings about an action. Even the most sophisticated companies do not embed inference and decision-making into the single reasoning framework. Rather, reasoning happens - unaided and opaquely - in the heads of decision makers, presumably with the same degree of reliability as if I were trying to balance my checkbook in my head.

Sorry for my rant this morning. It’s just that I’m very frustrated by
the discrepancy between ever-advancing analytics capabilities and the
near-absence of formal (probabilistic) reasoning.

-------------------------------------- 2014-09-16

In an attempt to help members of the Department of Biostatistics gain knowledge about the non-statistical aspects of "big data" that we should be aware of, we are starting a book discussion club that meets every 2nd and 4th Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the small conference room, 11th floor, 2525 West End Ave.  If we have the need for more space we will move the meeting.

The first meeting is next Monday, September 22.  We will be using the free kindle book (which you can read with the online browser-based kindle reader if you don't have a kindle device) available from
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097E4EBQ/ref=docs-os-doi_0 .  The online reader is at read.amazon.com once you purchase the book for $0.00.  Note: I have not verified that non-Amazon-Prime members get this book for free.  If you are presented with a nonzero charge please let Ashlee know.

Please read a chapter in advance of each meeting.  For the first meeting please read Chapters 1-2 (chapter 1 is only one page long).

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https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/05/waste-1000-studies/589684/