Organizations sharing data in a way that is very accessible

A few weeks ago, I posted about how you can share data in such a terrible way that one is not breaking the law, but the data is completely unusable.

This makes me think of all the times I am irked when someone states a problem but doesn't offer a solution to the problem. Instead, they just talk about what is wrong and not how it could be.

So, as a counter piece, let's cheer on organizations that ARE sharing data in a way that is readily accessible. You could use this in class as a palate cleanser if you teach your students about data obfuscation. You could also use it as a way of helping your students understand how data really is everywhere. Or even challenge them to brainstorm an app that uses readily accessible data in a new way to help folks.

Pro-Publica

This website lets you check how often salmonella is found at different chicken processing plants.

All you need to do is enter the p-number, company, or location listed on your package of chicken:

An image of ProPublica's Chicken Checker website.

https://projects.propublica.org/chicken/establishments/P2882/?poultryType=chickenparts

Entering a code will generate a data visualization AND plain-English explanation of how much salmonella is typically found in a plant. Also, the data provides a median and a percentile score for every plant, making this an excellent way to review those concepts.

ProPublica also created a heat map showing the air pollution level for your area in the US.

Image from the ProPublica air pollution web site

https://projects.propublica.org/toxmap/

You can view the heat map for every location, but the area's cancer risk is explained in relative and absolute risk.

The Gas Buddy App

Less dramatically, The Gas Buddy website/app created a group-sourced website for tracking gas prices in your area.

A screen shot of the Gas Buddy website, featuring gas prices for Erie, PA

https://www.gasbuddy.com/

Flight Radar 24

Several different websites sort out publically available flight tracking data.

For instance, at FlightRadar24, you can track any flight you want. Shout out to my dad, who often follows my flights. Because he was in the Air Force for 20 years, and that is his love language.

NOTE: Many, many websites provide this kind of data. FlightRadar24 is just one of them.

Google Maps

Google Maps also uses user data to tell you how crowded a place is. Which is great for me; I hate crowds and lines. This was initially aimed at helping people time their trips to avoid exposure to COVID, but it is also great for misanthropes.

The Washington Post

Finally, The Washington Post sued to gain access to piles and piles of data about the manufacturing and selling of painkillers during the height of the opioid epidemic. After they got the data, they made a significant, searchable database. Unfortunately, it is behind a pay wall, but you can read my previous post about that database here: The Washington Post's search page for all of the information you could ever want about who got rich during the Opioid Crisis.

Ways to use funny meme scales in your stats classes

Have you ever heard of the theory that there are multiple people worldwide thinking about the same novel thing at the same time? It is the multiple discovery hypothesis of invention . Like, multiple great minds around the world were working on calculus at the same time. Well, I think a bunch of super-duper psychology professors were all thinking about scale memes and pedagogy at the same time. Clearly, this is just as impressive as calculus. Who were some of these great minds? 1) Dr. Molly Metz maintains a curated list of hilarious "How you doing?" scales. 2) Dr. Esther Lindenström posted about using these scales as student check-ins. 3) I was working on a blog post about using such scales to teach the basics of variables. So, I decided to create a post about three ways to use these scales in your stats classes: 1) Teaching the basics of variables. 2) Nominal vs. ordinal scales. 3) Daily check-in with your students. 1. Teach your students the basics...

Using pulse rates to determine the scariest of scary movies

The Science of Scare project, conducted by MoneySuperMarket.com, recorded heart rates in participants watching fifty horror movies to determine the scariest of scary movies. Below is a screenshot of the original variables and data for 12 of the 50 movies provided by MoneySuperMarket.com: https://www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband/features/science-of-scare/ https://www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband/features/science-of-scare/ Here is my version of the data in Excel format . It includes the original data plus four additional columns (so you can run more analyses on the data): -Year of Release -Rotten Tomato rating -Does this movie have a sequel (yes or no)? -Is this movie a sequel (yes or no)? Here are some ways you could use this in class: 1. Correlation : Rotten Tomato rating does not correlate with the overall scare score ( r = 0.13, p = 0.36). 2. Within-subject research design : Baseline, average, and maximum heart rates are reported for each film. 3. ...

Andy Field's Statistics Hell

Andy Field is a psychologist, statistician, and author. He created a funny, Dante's Inferno-themed web site that contains everything you ever wanted to know about statistics. I know, I know, you're thinking, "Not another Dante's Inferno themed statistics web site!". But give this one a try. Property of Andy Field. I certainly can't take credit for this. Some highlights: 1) The aesthetic is priceless. For example, his intermediate statistics page begins with the introduction, "You will experience the bowel-evacuating effect of multiple regression, the bone-splintering power of ANOVA and the nose-hair pulling torment of factor analysis. Can you cope: I think not, mortal filth. Be warned, your brain will be placed in a jar of cerebral fluid and I will toy with it at my leisure." 2) It is all free. Including worksheets, data, etc. How amazing and generous. And, if you are feeling generous and feel the need to compensate him for the website, ...

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