----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Warner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Stephen J Fromm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 12:19 AM Subject: Re: econometrics primer
> Stephen J Fromm wrote: > > > [snip] > > > This is from a stats prof! We'll see if he is successful in getting > > > the concepts through my thick skull! > > > > My main problem with stats is that the concepts are not economically > > presented. > > Now I _like_ that. Economically presented. Wouldn't that mean, fewer > equations, fewer words? :) > > I think the key issue is how people learn math-type stuff. most of us tend to > work from the specific to the general, which is why we like a specific case to > start off. But recognition of the generalities involved comes more easily or > less easily. I think we need more focus on explaining these generalities - the > 'rules' - to people who do not see them easily. Thanks for your comments. My background is certainly not typical, since I have a PhD in math. I have nothing against starting with the specific and then working towards the general--that's a good idea in most fields of knowledge. The problem as I see it is that important issues are obscured. A good example of this is discussions of random effects analysis. I've found most presentations of this very confusing, and they need not be so. Cheers, S > > Jay > > > > > > > In math (my training), there's more emphasis on central points, which leads > > to (*relatively*) less confusion. > > > > There are also problems, like discredited methods not clearly disavowed (I'm > > thinking of "model fishing" involved with some multi-step regression > > models). > > > > Your point about omission of calculations is well-founded. Many books seem > > to have the attitude "Here's was SAS says..." > > > > .. > > .. > > ================================================================= > > Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the > > problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: > > .. http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . > > ================================================================= > > -- > Jay Warner > Principal Scientist > Warner Consulting, Inc. > 4444 North Green Bay Road > Racine, WI 53404-1216 > USA > > Ph: (262) 634-9100 > FAX: (262) 681-1133 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > web: http://www.a2q.com > > The A2Q Method (tm) -- What do you want to improve today? > > > > . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
