Presentation
16. Degrees of Freedom Should be Abandoned in Social Science Statistics
SessionPoster Session 2
Description“Degrees of freedom is a critical core concept within the field of statistics.” However, “Degrees of freedom is an often confusing, and highly technical, concept.” Rodgers, J. L. (2019). This study argues the use of degrees of freedom should be abandoned.
First, it has no value in determining significance when researchers use adequate sample sizes. Second, the concept requires an inordinate amount of time to teach. Third, non-experts do not benefit in understanding research design or statistical significance from reporting degrees of freedom.
Students (166) were randomly assigned to interpret the degrees of freedom reported in six examples of statistical text either using their own knowledge or instructed to interpret the numbers in parentheses of statistical text as the actual group number and sample size. Results show those using their own knowledge scored significantly worse (16%) than the experimental group (64%), t(164) = 10.64, p < .001.
First, it has no value in determining significance when researchers use adequate sample sizes. Second, the concept requires an inordinate amount of time to teach. Third, non-experts do not benefit in understanding research design or statistical significance from reporting degrees of freedom.
Students (166) were randomly assigned to interpret the degrees of freedom reported in six examples of statistical text either using their own knowledge or instructed to interpret the numbers in parentheses of statistical text as the actual group number and sample size. Results show those using their own knowledge scored significantly worse (16%) than the experimental group (64%), t(164) = 10.64, p < .001.
Event Type
Poster
TimeThursday, September 12th5:30pm - 6:30pm MST
LocationMcArthur Ballroom
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