Methods for Studying Coincidences

@article{citeulike:1628158, abstract = {This article illustrates basic statistical techniques for studying coincidences. These include data-gathering methods (informal anecdotes, case studies, observational studies, and experiments) and methods of analysis (exploratory and confirmatory data analysis, special analytic techniques, and probabilistic modeling, both general and special purpose). We develop a version of the birthday problem general enough to include dependence, inhomogeneity, and almost and multiple matches. We review Fisher's techniques for giving partial credit for close matches. We develop a model for studying coincidences involving newly learned words. Once we set aside coincidences having apparent causes, four principles account for large numbers of remaining coincidences: hidden cause; psychology, including memory and perception; multiplicity of endpoints, including the counting of \"close\" or nearly alike events as if they were identical; and the law of truly large numbers, which says that when enormous numbers of events and people and their interactions cumulate over time, almost any outrageous event is bound to occur. These sources account for much of the force of synchronicity.}, author = {Diaconis, Persi and Mosteller, Frederick }, citeulike-article-id = {1628158}, journal = {Journal of the American Statistical Association}, number = {408}, pages = {853--861}, posted-at = {2007-09-06 18:49:16}, priority = {2}, title = {Methods for Studying Coincidences}, url = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/2290058}, volume = {84}, year = {1989} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:1628158 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1628158 TI - Methods for Studying Coincidences JF - Journal of the American Statistical Association VL - 84 IS - 408 SP - 853 EP - 861 N2 - This article illustrates basic statistical techniques for studying coincidences. These include data-gathering methods (informal anecdotes, case studies, observational studies, and experiments) and methods of analysis (exploratory and confirmatory data analysis, special analytic techniques, and probabilistic modeling, both general and special purpose). We develop a version of the birthday problem general enough to include dependence, inhomogeneity, and almost and multiple matches. We review Fisher's techniques for giving partial credit for close matches. We develop a model for studying coincidences involving newly learned words. Once we set aside coincidences having apparent causes, four principles account for large numbers of remaining coincidences: hidden cause; psychology, including memory and perception; multiplicity of endpoints, including the counting of "close" or nearly alike events as if they were identical; and the law of truly large numbers, which says that when enormous numbers of events and people and their interactions cumulate over time, almost any outrageous event is bound to occur. These sources account for much of the force of synchronicity. AU - Diaconis, Persi AU - Mosteller, Frederick PY - 1989/// UR - http://www.jstor.org/stable/2290058 ER -