 Pitfalls of amateur regression: The Dutch New Herring controversiesFengnan Gao and Richard D. Gill Scandinavian Journal of Statistics, 2023, vol. 50, issue 4, 1901-1918 Abstract: Applying simple linear regression models, an economist analyzed a published dataset from an influential annual ranking in 2016 and 2017 of consumer outlets for Dutch New Herring and concluded that the ranking was manipulated. His finding was promoted by his university in national and international media, and this led to public outrage and ensuing discontinuation of the survey. We reconstitute the dataset, correcting errors and exposing features already important in a descriptive analysis of the data. The economist has continued his investigations, and in a follow‐up publication repeats the same accusations. We point out errors in his reasoning and show that alleged evidence for deliberate manipulation of the ranking could easily be an artifact of specification errors. Temporal and spatial factors are both important and complex, and their effects cannot be captured using simple models, given the small sample sizes and many factors determining perceived taste of a food product. Date: 2023 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:scjsta:v:50:y:2023:i:4:p:1901-1918 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from Access Statistics for this article Scandinavian Journal of Statistics is currently edited by ÿrnulf Borgan and Bo Lindqvist More articles in Scandinavian Journal of Statistics from Danish Society for Theoretical Statistics, Finnish Statistical Society, Norwegian Statistical Association, Swedish Statistical Association |
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