On 13 Aug 2003 09:10:25 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jay Warner) wrote: >I like Don Burrill's suggestion. It can be done easily. Furthermore, if >you are not reasonably familiar with regression methods, why would you >seek out a second or 3rd level text? If you aren't reasonably sure that >your simplifying data-related assumptions will lead you astray in terms >of precision of predictions, then a 'complete' treatment is probably a >waste of intellectual energy. Which is in itself a most precious >resource. > >to quote a number of statisticians, the first thing you do is PLOT YOUR >DATA! Then look at it. IF and only if it appears to follow an >exponential decay form, then a transformation will make the plot look >straight, and you can consider fitting a straight line to it and making a >prediction from there. Based on the statistical precision you can >demonstrate at that point.
My hypothesis is based on widespread claims in the literature that memory does follow an exponential decay curve. I want to test that concept in specific situations. >If I were to undertake this type of study, the first thing I would do is >even before that. I would ask how you intend to measure 'memory' and >'memory loss.' I would ask for operational definitions of the terms >thrown around, and then would ask carefully whether the thing which you >measure (such as % of items recalled) actually indicates what you think >it does (memory loss?). When you could make clear, supportable >statements about what you would measure, and how, then I would say to >collect some data and see what the plot looked like. Yes, of course. All good and proper procedural steps. >And good luck on your project. I'd add one other thing, but I forgot >what it was :) See, you need my memory study! -- Spam sink email address, sorry . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
