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Stalin and Summary Statistics
Scott Alexander examines how different statistical presentations of the same data in social science studies can lead to vastly different interpretations, potentially misleading readers.
18 min read 2,663 words
A thread through the archive
media criticism
Essays tagged “media criticism”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on media criticism
75 essaysSSC
The Case Of The Famous Physicist
Scott analyzes a case of apparent psychiatric misdiagnosis, explaining the complexities and challenges faced by psychiatrists in evaluating patients' claims.
18 min read 2,705 words
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That Chocolate Study
Scott Alexander dissects a hoax chocolate study to critique common misconceptions about nutrition science, study design, and statistical methods.
19 min read 2,924 words
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AI Researchers On AI Risk
Scott Alexander provides evidence that many prominent AI researchers are concerned about AI risk, contrary to claims in some popular articles.
36 min read 5,524 words
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California, Water You Doing?
Scott analyzes California's water usage, critiques media coverage of the drought, and proposes a market-based solution focused on reducing alfalfa farming.
14 min read 2,127 words
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Polemical Imbalance
Scott Alexander defends his stance on the 'chemical imbalance' theory of depression, arguing that Mad In America's critique actually supports his view of a more nuanced understanding in psychiatry.
26 min read 3,936 words
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Drug Testing Welfare Users Is A Sham, But Not For The Reasons You Think
Scott Alexander criticizes misleading media reports on drug testing welfare recipients, showing how flawed methods and misrepresented data led to false conclusions about drug use rates.
17 min read 2,499 words
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These Are A Few (More) Of My (Least) Favorite Things
Scott Alexander presents a new list of internet annoyances for 2015, ranging from argumentative tactics to web design issues.
18 min read 2,773 words
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Depression Is Not A Proxy For Social Dysfunction
Scott Alexander argues that depression and suicide rates are not reliable indicators of societal well-being, critiquing simplistic interpretations of mental health statistics in social comparisons.
15 min read 2,324 words
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Debunked And Well-Refuted
Scott criticizes the misuse of terms like 'debunked' in academic and political discourse, arguing for more nuanced examination of studies and their critiques.
14 min read 2,081 words
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Prisons Are Built With Bricks Of Law And Brothels With Bricks Of Religion, But That Doesn’t Prove A Causal Relationship
Scott criticizes interpretations of a study suggesting psychiatric care might cause suicide, arguing this ignores the more likely explanation of selection bias.
11 min read 1,619 words
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More Links For November 2014
Scott shares a diverse collection of links and brief commentaries on scientific studies, political news, cultural phenomena, and personal observations across various fields.
20 min read 3,094 words
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Links For November 2014
A collection of interesting links from November 2014 covering science, technology, politics, and culture, with Scott's commentary and analysis on each.
13 min read 1,956 words
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Five Case Studies On Politicization
Scott Alexander examines how issues become politicized along tribal lines, preventing rational discussion and leading to counterproductive behaviors.
38 min read 5,839 words
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Even More Links For September 2014
Scott shares a diverse collection of interesting links and news items from September 2014, covering topics from music genres to scientific research.
7 min read 1,020 words
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The Guardian vs. Induction
Scott Alexander criticizes a Guardian article's flawed reasoning in claiming 'Limits to Growth' accurately predicts economic collapse, comparing it to the philosophical 'grue-bleen induction problem'.
9 min read 1,374 words
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If The Media Reported On Other Dangers Like It Does AI Risk
Scott satirizes media reporting on AI risk by presenting exaggerated or misrepresented coverage of other potential dangers, highlighting issues in risk reporting.
3 min read 402 words
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The Wonderful Thing About Triggers
Scott Alexander defends trigger warnings as tools for informed choice, not censorship, and criticizes arguments against them, especially those based on non-consensual exposure therapy.
15 min read 2,216 words
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Plutocracy Isn’t About Money
The post explores the contradiction between studies suggesting elite influence on policy and those indicating money's limited impact on politics, offering several hypotheses to reconcile these findings.
7 min read 972 words
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Links for December
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.
13 min read 1,878 words
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Lies, Damned Lies, And Facebook (Part 4 of ∞)
Scott Alexander debunks claims of effectiveness for Vancouver's 'Don't Be That Guy' anti-rape campaign, arguing that the reported crime reduction is likely due to normal statistical fluctuations rather than the campaign's impact.
14 min read 2,160 words
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Lies, Damned Lies, And Facebook (Part 3 of ∞)
Scott Alexander analyzes the misrepresentation of the Gilbert/Frago case in media and online discourse, showing how legal complexities were oversimplified.
12 min read 1,853 words
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Links For May
Scott shares and comments on various interesting links, including critiques of science journalism, updates on scientific discoveries, and various cultural curiosities.
9 min read 1,258 words
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Yellow Journalism In The War On Science
Scott Alexander criticizes misleading media coverage of 'The High Quality Research Act', clarifying its actual content and arguing for a more nuanced debate on NSF funding priorities.
11 min read 1,638 words
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A good pun is its own reword
Scott Alexander explores what makes puns truly great, providing numerous examples and discussing various types of exceptional wordplay.
8 min read 1,112 words