Introducing Bayesian Analysis with $\text{m&m's}^\circledR$: an active-learning exercise for undergraduates
Abstract
We present an active-learning strategy for undergraduates that applies Bayesian analysis to candy-covered chocolate $\text{m&m's}^\circledR$. The exercise is best suited for small class sizes and tutorial settings, after students have been introduced to the concepts of Bayesian statistics. The exercise takes advantage of the non-uniform distribution of $\text{m&m's}^\circledR~$ colours, and the difference in distributions made at two different factories. In this paper, we provide the intended learning outcomes, lesson plan and step-by-step guide for instruction, and open-source teaching materials. We also suggest an extension to the exercise for the graduate-level, which incorporates hierarchical Bayesian analysis.
- Publication:
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arXiv e-prints
- Pub Date:
- April 2019
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.1904.11006
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1904.11006
- Bibcode:
- 2019arXiv190411006E
- Keywords:
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- Statistics - Other Statistics;
- Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics;
- Physics - Data Analysis;
- Statistics and Probability;
- Statistics - Applications
- E-Print:
- Accepted to the Journal of Statistics Education (in press)