Skip to main content

Methodology

Follow Methodology in the Factlen app and get an alert when there is news. Get the app

More in Methodology

ExplainerBlock Bootstrapping

How Moving-Window Block Bootstraps Preserve Autocorrelation in Time Series Samples

Nonparametric Statisticians 35%Financial Risk Analysts 35%Computational Data Scientists 30%

5 sources · 2d ago

ExplainerLongitudinal Analysis

How Linear Mixed Models Separate Individual Trajectories From Baseline Differences in Panel Data

Mixed-Model Proponents 45%Fixed-Effects Advocates 30%Methodological Skeptics 25%

9 sources · 5d ago

ExplainerStatistical Modeling

Why Exponentiating Log Regressions Underestimates Means and How Duan's Smearing Fixes It

Classical Statisticians 40%Health Economists 35%Machine Learning Practitioners 25%

4 sources · 6d ago

ExplainerMachine Learning

Why Feature Selection Before Cross-Validation Leaks Labels and Fakes Accuracy on Pure Noise

Statistical Theorists 40%Applied Practitioners 35%Domain Researchers 25%

6 sources · 11d ago

ExplainerRegression Diagnostics

Why Dropping High-VIF Controls to Fix Multicollinearity Induces Omitted Variable Bias

Causal Inference Researchers 40%Predictive Machine Learning Practitioners 35%Applied Statisticians 25%

6 sources · 13d ago

ExplainerEconometrics

Already-Treated Controls Subtract Evolving Treatment Effects: Why Two-Way Fixed Effects Assign Negative Weights in Staggered Rollouts

Econometric Theorists 40%Applied Microeconomists 40%Policy Analysts 20%

6 sources · 14d ago

ExplainerStatistical Bias

How Immortal Time Bias Artificially Slashes Mortality Rates in Observational Medical Research

Clinical Methodologists 40%Real-World Evidence Proponents 30%Regulatory Agencies 30%

8 sources · 15d ago

ExplainerEconometrics

Weak Instruments Shift Two-Stage Least Squares Toward Ordinary Least Squares Bias When First-Stage F-Statistics Fall Below 10

Econometric Methodologists 40%Applied Empirical Researchers 30%Replication Advocates 30%

9 sources · 16d ago

ExplainerCovariate Adjustment

Why Adjusting for Balanced Covariates Diverges Conditional and Marginal Odds Ratios

Regulatory Agencies 38%Mathematical Statisticians 31%Causal Inference Methodologists 31%

9 sources · 17d ago

ExplainerSurvival Analysis

Kaplan-Meier Survival Models Overestimate Clinical Risk by Ignoring Competing Deaths

Clinical Methodologists 40%Etiological Researchers 30%Public Health Planners 30%

6 sources · 18d ago

ExplainerCausal Inference

The Unconfoundedness Assumption: How the Probability of Treatment Assignment Must Be Independent of Potential Outcomes Given Observed Covariates

Causal Methodologists 40%Social Scientists 30%Epidemiologists 30%

5 sources · 33d ago

ExplainerStatistical Modeling

The Bayes Factor: How the Ratio of Marginal Likelihoods Quantifies Evidence for Competing Hypotheses

Objective Bayesians 45%Subjective Bayesians 30%Frequentist Defenders 25%

8 sources · 35d ago

ExplainerTime Series Analysis

Exponential Smoothing's Alpha Parameter Balances Responsiveness and Historical Stability

Algorithmic Optimizers 40%Domain Experts 35%Robustness Advocates 25%

6 sources · 37d ago

ExplainerStatistical Theory

Why a 95% Confidence Interval Does Not Mean a 95% Chance the True Mean is Within the Range

Frequentist Traditionalists 40%Bayesian Reformers 35%Applied Practitioners 25%

10 sources · 38d ago

ExplainerCausal Inference

Evidence Pack: The Accuracy and Limits of Propensity Score Matching in Observational Research

Methodological Critics 40%Applied Researchers 30%Causal Inference Theorists 30%

6 sources · 39d ago

Dimensionality Reduction

Covariance Matrix Eigenvectors Define Directions of Maximum Variance in PCA

Geometric Interpreters 35%Algebraic Purists 35%Applied Data Scientists 30%

6 sources · 40d ago

ExplainerAnomaly Detection

Evidence Pack: The Accuracy of Benford's Law in Detecting Financial and Electoral Fraud

Forensic Accountants 40%Political Scientists 40%Data Visualisation Analysts 20%

6 sources · 41d ago

ExplainerAlgorithmic Transparency

How SHAP Values Decompose a Black-Box Model's Prediction into Feature Contributions

Algorithmic Transparency Advocates 35%Causal Inference Skeptics 35%Applied Data Scientists 30%

7 sources · 42d ago

ExplainerStatistical Inference

Why Heteroskedasticity Distorts Standard Errors and How Robust Standard Errors Correct the Variance Matrix

Classical Econometricians 40%Statistical Diagnosticians 35%Small-Sample Theorists 25%

6 sources · 43d ago

ExplainerStatistical Modeling

Variance Inflation Factor: Measuring Multicollinearity and Inflated Standard Errors

Applied Researchers 40%Methodologists 35%Latent Variable Analysts 25%

6 sources · 44d ago

ExplainerOmitted Variable Bias

The Mathematical Formula That Determines the Direction and Magnitude of Omitted Variable Bias in Regression

Econometricians 40%Predictive Data Scientists 30%Financial Risk Modelers 30%

6 sources · 46d ago

Statistical ModelingMethodology Explainer

How a Mediator Explains the Causal Path While a Moderator Changes Its Strength

Traditional Regression Framework 44%Computational Process Analysis 33%Structural Causal Inference 22%

7 sources · 47d ago

Census 2026Methodology Explainer

India Deploys 3 Million Enumerators for World's Largest Digital Census

Government Statisticians 40%Demographic Researchers 30%Social Policy Advocates 30%

4 sources · 48d ago

ExplainerCausal Inference

How Arbitrary Cutoffs Isolate Cause and Effect in Observational Data

Econometricians 40%Clinical Researchers 35%Policy Evaluators 25%

7 sources · 49d ago

ExplainerCausal Inference

Propensity Score Matching: Balancing Observational Data to Mimic Randomized Trials

Real-World Evidence Advocates 45%Clinical Trial Purists 30%Methodological Skeptics 25%

8 sources · 50d ago

Research BriefModel Evaluation

Evaluating Classification Models: How ROC Curves and AUC Measure Discriminatory Power

General-Purpose Statisticians 60%Rare-Event Researchers 40%

6 sources · 51d ago

ExplainerSurvey Methodology

Correcting Skewed Survey Samples With Post-Stratification, Raking, and Propensity Scores

Traditional Methodologists 40%Modern Data Scientists 40%Data Skeptics 20%

7 sources · 52d ago

ExplainerStatistical Methods

Why Modern Research Relies on Effect Sizes and Confidence Intervals Over P-Values

Replication Reformers 45%Clinical Practitioners 35%Traditional Frequentists 20%

9 sources · 53d ago

ExplainerMacroeconomic Measurement

Calculating GDP: Expenditure, Income, and Production Formulas Measure the Economy

Expenditure-First Analysts 40%Income-Side Economists 35%Non-Observed Economy Researchers 25%

9 sources · 53d ago

ExplainerCancer Screening

Data From 140,000-Person Trial Paves Way for Single Blood Test to Screen for 50 Cancers

Early Detection Advocates 40%Methodology Skeptics 30%Public Health Evaluators 30%

6 sources · 54d ago

Inflation MetricsEvidence Pack

BEA Methodology Change Will Retroactively Revise US Inflation Data Back to 2021, Lowering PCE Index

Methodological Purists 45%Monetary Policy Watchers 40%Market Skeptics 15%

1 sources · 55d ago

Research BriefEconomic Measurement

NBER-Led Initiative Pushes Integration of Private Transaction Data Into Core US Economic Statistics

Real-Time Data Advocates 45%Traditional Statisticians 35%Methodological Reformers 20%

3 sources · 56d ago

Research BriefMechanistic AI

Mechanistic Machine Learning Models Uncover Physical Laws, Shifting AI From Pattern Recognition to Active Scientific Discovery

Mechanistic AI Researchers 40%Applied Domain Scientists 40%Scientific Skeptics 20%

6 sources · 57d ago

ExplainerEconomic Methodology

Inside the BTOS: How a Biweekly Survey of 1.2 Million Businesses Provides Real-Time Economic Data

High-Frequency Data Advocates 45%Methodological Skeptics 30%Respondent Burden Critics 25%

3 sources · 58d ago

ExplainerMacroeconomics

New Fed Model Rewrites Inflation Dynamics: Uncertainty, Not Cycles, Drives Fluctuations

Uncertainty-Focused Macroeconomists 45%Traditional Keynesian Economists 30%Corporate Pricing Strategists 25%

3 sources · 59d ago

Research BriefAI Economy

Stanford Launches AI Economic Indicators to Track AI's Real-Time Impact on Labor and Productivity

Labor Economists 35%Macroeconomists 35%Technology Optimists 30%

6 sources · 61d ago

ExplainerEconomic Measurement

World Bank's Prosperity Gap Replaces Poverty Lines With an Income Multiplier

Development Economists 40%Global Aid Organizations 35%Data Methodologists 25%

5 sources · 62d ago

ExplainerEconomic Measurement

ONS Blue Book 2026 Revisions Lift UK 2024 GDP by 0.5% on Service Sector Data

National Statisticians 40%Market Analysts 35%Methodological Reviewers 25%

5 sources · 63d ago

ExplainerClimate Economics

New Economic Methodology Finds Climate Damages Overestimated by Half Without Accounting for Global Convergence

Macroeconomic Theorists 40%Empirical Econometricians 30%Climate Policy Analysts 30%

4 sources · 64d ago

Federal DataAccountability Tracker

New Tracker Finds 338 Federal Data Collections Modified, 28 Deleted Since 2025

Civic Data Advocates 45%Research and Nonprofit Sector 35%Federal Administration Officials 20%

5 sources · 65d ago

ExplainerResearch Integrity

New Study Finds Proprietary AI and 'Black Box' Tools Threaten Scientific Reproducibility

Open Science Advocates 45%Pragmatic Researchers 30%Commercial AI Developers 25%

7 sources · 66d ago

ExplainerAI Bias

Study Finds AI Models Invent New Biases on Neutral Data, Challenging Training Data Paradigm

Mechanism Researchers 40%Sociotechnical Critics 35%Algorithmic Neutrality Advocates 25%

4 sources · 68d ago

ExplainerFederal Data

Staffing Crisis and Leadership Vacancies Threaten Integrity of US Federal Economic and Social Data, ASA Report Finds

Statistical Agency Advocates 40%Federal Workforce Analysts 30%Data User Community 30%

4 sources · 71d ago

ExplainerAI Governance

OMB M-24-10 Requires Federal Agencies to Build Audit Trails for AI Accountability

Federal Policymakers 40%Statistical Agencies 30%Algorithmic Accountability Advocates 30%

6 sources · 73d ago

Research BriefAI Reproducibility

How Data Reproducibility is Bottlenecking AI-Driven Scientific Discovery

Experimental Scientists 35%Machine Learning Critics 35%Open Science Advocates 30%

8 sources · 74d ago

Economic DataMethodology Explainer

How Tweaks to Government Data Models Are Shifting Inflation Metrics and Privacy Rules

Statistical Methodologists 40%Market Analysts 35%Policy Watchdogs 25%

7 sources · 76d ago

Per page