Stephen Senn
@stephensenn.bsky.social
Swiss & British statistician.
When it comes to dividing distributions into four equal parts may the fourth be with you and give no quarter to those who refer to them as quartiles.
January 30, 2026 at 6:35 PM
When it comes to dividing distributions into four equal parts may the fourth be with you and give no quarter to those who refer to them as quartiles.
Especially since there are (at least) three types of random effect.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/random...?
www.linkedin.com/pulse/random...?
A Random Trio
Three kinds of random effects in designed experiments The analysis of variance in the paper, however, is very defective. I suspect that Fisher did not give his full attention to it.
www.linkedin.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Especially since there are (at least) three types of random effect.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/random...?
www.linkedin.com/pulse/random...?
Don’t get me started on Senntiles
January 30, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Don’t get me started on Senntiles
Indeed, but it’s not just fancier it’s wrong. If you use “quintile” to mean “fifth” what do you call the four boundaries that divide the data into five equal parts?
January 29, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Indeed, but it’s not just fancier it’s wrong. If you use “quintile” to mean “fifth” what do you call the four boundaries that divide the data into five equal parts?
Slide 35 builds to show that the dose for children is exactly the same as for adults. Pharma is still completely bedazzled by using omics to personalise medicine but ignores simple information like age and weight.
January 29, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Slide 35 builds to show that the dose for children is exactly the same as for adults. Pharma is still completely bedazzled by using omics to personalise medicine but ignores simple information like age and weight.
See slide 35 www.slideshare.net/slideshow/pe...
January 28, 2026 at 7:36 PM
See slide 35 www.slideshare.net/slideshow/pe...
Are interest rates high by historical standards?
January 28, 2026 at 8:12 AM
Are interest rates high by historical standards?
I usually read the methods section first. I sometimes read the abstract. I do, however, read the title.
January 28, 2026 at 7:07 AM
I usually read the methods section first. I sometimes read the abstract. I do, however, read the title.
Are you, by any chance, a Gael?
January 28, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Are you, by any chance, a Gael?
The only thing I can think of is this. “ Case control studies condition on an outcome. Hindsight is an exact science but foresight has to make do with what is known before the future happens.”
January 27, 2026 at 1:21 PM
The only thing I can think of is this. “ Case control studies condition on an outcome. Hindsight is an exact science but foresight has to make do with what is known before the future happens.”
Yes. It’s still a lot. However, I think you will find that some lawyers who can charge a higher fraction of their time to clients, will have higher hourly rates.
January 27, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Yes. It’s still a lot. However, I think you will find that some lawyers who can charge a higher fraction of their time to clients, will have higher hourly rates.
What I advise anyone to do is start by thinking what fraction of their time would be chargeable if they acted as a consultant. You may find this is surprisingly small. Your rates have to reflect this.
January 27, 2026 at 12:38 PM
What I advise anyone to do is start by thinking what fraction of their time would be chargeable if they acted as a consultant. You may find this is surprisingly small. Your rates have to reflect this.
“The cowl it makes the guinea fowl
The bird’s a bird for a’ that.”
(It’s that time of year.)
The bird’s a bird for a’ that.”
(It’s that time of year.)
January 27, 2026 at 8:06 AM
“The cowl it makes the guinea fowl
The bird’s a bird for a’ that.”
(It’s that time of year.)
The bird’s a bird for a’ that.”
(It’s that time of year.)
Recommended reading www.linkedin.com/pulse/being-...?
On being a consultant (medical) statistician
Throwing names at vacancies I have somewhat unkindly and unfairly described recruitment agents as being people who throw names at vacancies. In fact, I think that they do a difficult and useful job an...
www.linkedin.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Recommended reading www.linkedin.com/pulse/being-...?
Eee I don’t know about that. Kriegsspiel, perhaps?
January 25, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Eee I don’t know about that. Kriegsspiel, perhaps?
Indeed but they may get the point eventually.
January 24, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Indeed but they may get the point eventually.
Also, that cow looked suspiciously like a Simmental to me and it’s hardly surprising that a Swiss Army Cow has different tools for different purposes.
January 21, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Also, that cow looked suspiciously like a Simmental to me and it’s hardly surprising that a Swiss Army Cow has different tools for different purposes.
Before we get too excited about penguins I would just like to remind everyone that the emperor has no clothes.
January 21, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Before we get too excited about penguins I would just like to remind everyone that the emperor has no clothes.
And of Spanish, you say nothing (not even “nada”)?
January 21, 2026 at 1:39 AM
And of Spanish, you say nothing (not even “nada”)?