Hi Perhaps a good foundation for a class exercise on the kinds of data that one would need to demonstrate an association (correlation) between last name and occupation. No quantity of anecdotes (examples) will do. Seems we would need at least # matching and # not matching, to get some idea of the proportion matching. And then the tricky part ... what is the chance probability? Perhaps need some kind of simulation or randomization test: e.g., enter list of names and occupations, scramble both (a bunch of times), and work out proportion matching by chance. Might also make the basis for a lab on illusory correlation (perhaps not exactly the right term given normal conditions for demonstrating illusory rs). Show people a bunch of name + occupation pairs and ask if they are associated or not given sampling from unrelated and related populations.
Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [email protected] >>> Allen Esterson <[email protected]> 16-Apr-10 1:22:27 AM >>> Is it possible that, in a few cases at least, one's name influences one's career choice? (This could loosely be said to be a psychological question. :-) ) I'm led to this rather frivolous suggestion by the names of two of the leading judges of England and Wales: Igor Judge is the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. John Laws is a Lord Justice of Appeal. Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London [email protected] http://www.esterson.org --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a891720c9&n=T&l=tips&o=2018 or send a blank email to leave-2018-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=2019 or send a blank email to leave-2019-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
