Simpson's paradox

(noun)

a paradox in which a trend that appears in different groups of data disappears when these groups are combined, and the reverse trend appears for the aggregate data

Related Terms

  • partition
  • ecological correlation
  • aggregate

(noun)

That the association of two variables for one subset of a population may be similar to the association of those variables in another subset, but different from the association of the variables in the total population.

Related Terms

  • partition
  • ecological correlation
  • aggregate

Examples of Simpson's paradox in the following topics:

  • Sex Bias in Graduate Admissions

    • In this particular case, we can see an occurrence of Simpson's Paradox .
    • Simpson's Paradox is a paradox in which a trend that appears in different groups of data disappears when these groups are combined, and the reverse trend appears for the aggregate data.
    • The practical significance of Simpson's paradox surfaces in decision making situations where it poses the following dilemma: Which data should we consult in choosing an action, the aggregated or the partitioned?
    • An illustration of Simpson's Paradox.
    • Illustrate how the phenomenon of confounding can be seen in practice via Simpson's Paradox.
  • Ecological Fallacy

    • A striking ecological fallacy is Simpson's paradox, diagramed in .
    • Simpson's paradox refers to the fact, when comparing two populations divided in groups of different sizes, the average of some variable in the first population can be higher in every group and yet lower in the total population.
    • Simpson's paradox for continuous data: a positive trend appears for two separate groups (blue and red), a negative trend (black, dashed) appears when the data are combined.
  • Approximate Integration

    • Popular methods use one of the Newton–Cotes formulas (such as midpoint rule or Simpson's rule) or Gaussian quadrature.
  • Effects of Time Dilation: The Twin Paradox and the Decay of the Muon

    • The twin paradox is a thought experiment: one twin makes a journey into space and returns home to find that twin remained aged more.
    • Since there is no symmetry, it is not paradoxical if one twin is younger than the other.
    • Nevertheless twin paradox is useful as a demonstration that special relativity is self-consistent.
    • Spacetime diagram of the twin paradox.
    • Explain the twin paradox within the standard framework of special relativity
  • Public Choice: Median Voters and Inefficient Voting Outcomes

    • The Condorcet paradox is a voting paradox where collective preferences can be cyclical.
    • It is a paradox because the wishes of the majority can conflict with one another.
    • For example, the Condorcet paradox can be compared to the game rock/paper/scissors.
    • An example of a voting paradox can be seen in a simple voting scenario.
    • The Condorcet paradox is used to evaluate voting systems.
  • Additional Readings

    • ., & Simpson, R.
  • The Paradox of the Chevalier De Méré

    • Another one of his problems has come to be called "De Méré's Paradox," and it is explained below.
    • This is a veridical paradox.
  • The paradox of the public pledge

    • The paradox of "the other" is the paradox of the public pledge.
    • But to make sure this point is underlined, let us consider the "Paradox of pay", perhaps the most complexing of all to the business professional.
  • Agenda-Setting Theory

    • Media experts contend that the OJ Simpson case was a prime example of media agenda-setting.
  • Media Bias

    • Simpson murder case.
    • Simpson murder case.
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