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9 posts found
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Feb 15, 2024
acx
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4 min 477 words 517 comments 143 likes podcast (5 min)
Scott Alexander tests a hypothesis about gender integration moderating political views using his survey data, finding no significant effect of sibling gender on political attitudes. Longer summary
Scott Alexander examines a claim about gender differences in political attitudes and tests a hypothesis using data from his 2022 survey. The post discusses a reported growing political gap between men and women, and a proposed explanation that increased gender integration might moderate political views. Scott tests this by comparing political attitudes of men and women with only brothers or only sisters. The results show no significant effect, suggesting that sibling gender doesn't influence political views in the way proposed. Scott also discusses potential limitations of using his survey data and mentions other explanations and challenges to the original finding. Shorter summary
Aug 16, 2023
acx
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32 min 4,881 words 647 comments 220 likes podcast (24 min)
Scott Alexander argues that describable dating preferences are valuable, despite studies suggesting otherwise, by pointing out flaws in research and emphasizing real-world evidence. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques studies suggesting that describable preferences are useless in dating, arguing that common sense and empirical evidence show otherwise. He points out flaws in these studies, such as pre-sorted populations and brief evaluation periods, and suggests that while initial attraction might be random, similar interests and personalities likely lead to lasting relationships. Scott also discusses the value of dating profiles and 'dating docs' in conveying subjective preferences that can't be easily quantified in psychological exams. He concludes that for people who believe they can use describable preferences effectively, these tools remain valuable despite average trends in the general population. Shorter summary
Dec 30, 2022
acx
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2 min 181 words 766 comments 75 likes podcast (2 min)
Scott Alexander announces the 2022 ACX Survey, highlighting past findings and offering incentives for participation. Longer summary
Scott Alexander announces the 2022 ACX Survey, an annual reader survey that helps him understand his audience and investigate interesting hypotheses. He highlights some findings from previous years, estimates the survey will take 20-40 minutes to complete, and offers free one-year paid subscriptions to five randomly-selected respondents as an incentive. The survey will be open until January 15, and readers are encouraged to report any problems in the comments. Shorter summary
Mar 26, 2016
ssc
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22 min 3,366 words 970 comments
A Links post presenting various interesting news and studies from different fields, with brief commentary on each item. Longer summary
This is a Links post that presents a collection of interesting news, studies, and articles from various fields. The post covers topics ranging from scientific research and academic policy to economics and social issues. It includes studies on ADHD diagnosis, income inequality, neighborhood effects, and discussion of various cultural and political events. The tone is casual and informative, with Scott providing brief commentary and connecting different ideas throughout. Shorter summary
Aug 02, 2015
ssc
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18 min 2,659 words 248 comments
Scott Alexander examines how different statistical presentations of the same data in social science studies can lead to vastly different interpretations, potentially misleading readers. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the importance of understanding and interpreting statistical measures in social science studies, particularly focusing on correlation, percent variance explained, and visual representations of data. He examines two studies: one on IQ and state wealth, and another on wealth inheritance. Alexander highlights how different presentations of the same data can lead to vastly different interpretations, potentially misleading readers. He emphasizes the need for a good grasp of statistical concepts and realistic expectations when evaluating social science research, noting that correlations above 0.4 are rare in this field. Shorter summary
Jun 08, 2015
ssc
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13 min 1,990 words 177 comments
A collection of interesting links covering science, politics, economics, and culture, with Scott's commentary on each story. Longer summary
This is a links post containing various interesting stories and studies. The topics range widely from scientific studies about CBT efficacy and homosexuality in fruit flies, to political events like the Baltimore riots aftermath and FIFA scandals, to cultural curiosities like Chinese translations of Finnegan's Wake and crash blossom headlines. The post includes some interesting technology stories like AI safety and Russian smart billboards, economic studies about education and art museums, and various sociological studies and experiments. Shorter summary
Aug 28, 2014
ssc
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16 min 2,385 words 176 comments
Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of links on topics ranging from politics and economics to scientific studies, offering brief commentaries and critiques. Longer summary
This post is a collection of interesting links and brief commentaries on various topics. Scott Alexander covers a wide range of subjects including politics, science, social issues, and economics. He discusses studies on poverty traps, the relationship between poverty and crime, and the effects of marijuana legalization. The post also includes quirky facts, book reviews, and observations on cultural phenomena. Scott's tone is analytical and often skeptical, particularly when discussing scientific studies and their interpretations. Shorter summary
Jun 18, 2014
ssc
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13 min 1,898 words 348 comments
Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of links and brief commentary on topics ranging from climate change to social science research, with both serious analysis and humorous observations. Longer summary
This post is a collection of interesting links and brief commentary on various topics. Scott Alexander covers a wide range of subjects, including climate change, economics, social science research, technology, and current events. He shares studies, news articles, and personal observations, often with a skeptical or analytical perspective. The post includes both serious topics and more lighthearted content, reflecting Scott's diverse interests and tendency to explore unconventional ideas. Shorter summary
Dec 01, 2013
ssc
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13 min 1,878 words 65 comments podcast (21 min)
Scott shares various interesting links and studies, covering topics from education research and IQ testing to controversial social issues and scientific discoveries, while adding his commentary on each. Longer summary
This is a collection of interesting links with Scott's commentary. The links cover a wide range of topics including education research showing long-term effects of good teachers, studies about IQ test motivation, controversial social policies, viral stories that turned out to be hoaxes, and scientific discoveries. Scott provides context and critical analysis for each link, often connecting them to broader themes about social movements, research methodology, and policy effectiveness. The post ends with some interesting scientific findings about inherited memories in mice and a personal request for accommodation in New York. Shorter summary
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