ASA at 175 - Policy - Science at the crossroads? Data sharing, reproducibility, and related issues

By Ronald Wasserstein - April 108, 2014

During this 175^th anniversary year of the ASA, issues that have a major statistical component have been at the forefront of major policy discussions. 

• Who does data belong to, especially when it is collected using federal funds?
• What are the most effective ways of sharing data so that science is advanced while protecting the intellectual property of those who collected it and any personal data it might contain?
• How do we make sure research results are widely available, especially research that was supported by federal funds?
• How do we make it possible to check the reproducibility of research results?  (By “reproducibility” we mean that...
  
  

ASA at 175 - Selecting ASA Fellows

By Ronald Wasserstein - April 104, 2014

One of the most distinguished awards given to ASA members is the designation “ASA Fellow.” As I write, the ASA Committee on Fellows is meeting downstairs in the ASA HQ in Alexandria, VA, to finalize the selection of 2014 Fellows.  Committee members have been working hard over the past six weeks to review and rate 119 nomination packets, and now they must whittle the list down to at most 63 people.

According to the ASA By-Laws (Article I, part 5), “By the honorary title of Fellow, the Association recognizes full members of established reputation who have made outstanding contributions in some aspect...

ASA at 175 - Getting Involved in The World of Statistics

By Ronald Wasserstein - April 101, 2014

One of the ways the ASA promotes the practice and profession of statistics is by supporting efforts to increase the visibility of our profession here in the US and around the world.  The largest of these efforts is The World of Statistics (TWOS), the successor to 2013’s highly successful International Year of Statistics.  

It is incredibly important for statisticians and statistical organizations to become involved in The World of Statistics. Today’s blog will highlight the many ways you can participate, and conclude with reasons WHY you should.

Here are several ways to participate.  Some of them require very little time on your part, and yet...

ASA at 175 - Spread the Word: April is Math Awareness Month

By Ronald Wasserstein - April 100, 2014

April is Mathematics Awareness Month (MAM), and you will thoroughly enjoy a visit to the MAM website to explore “Mathematics, Magic, and Mystery,” the 2014 MAM theme.  In fact, I recommend you suspend reading this blog for a bit, click on the MAM link, and go have some fun.  Then drop back here for some additional background.

(Time out for some math fun here.)

Welcome back!  By the way, I took my own advice, stopped writing, and explored the site a bit further.  As you noticed, new mathematical secrets are revealed each day throughout April.  Each day can be explored as deeply as you...

ASA at 175 - Policy - ASA Statement on Value-Added Models for Educational Assessment

By Ronald Wasserstein - April 99, 2014

Last week, the ASA Board of Directors adopted an “ASA Statement on Value-Added Models for Educational Assessment.”  What the statement says, and why the ASA makes such statements, are the topics of today’s ASA at 175 blog.

As noted in the ASA’s press release on the statement, use of value-added models (VAMs) has become more prevalent, perhaps because these models are viewed as more objective or authoritative than other types of information. VAMs attempt to measure the value a teacher adds to student-achievement growth by analyzing changes in standardized test scores. VAMs are sometimes used in high-stakes decisions such as determining compensation, evaluating...