Teaching the Complexity of Dependence With the Triplet Game. Issue 3 (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burke, Jon; Goukasian, Levon; Shearer, Robert
• Is Part Of: Journal of statistics education. Volume 28:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 326
• Page End: 333
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: Coin flipping -- expected value -- randomness -- simulation; Statistics -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Statistics -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; 519.5071
• DOI: 10.1080/10691898.2020.1841589
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1069-1898

Abstract

Abstract: Students often struggle with the concept of dependence of events or random variables. We present a simple coin flipping game that yields surprising results due to the dependencies within the game. The game is simple enough for young children to understand and play, yet complex enough to yield results that are counterintuitive to even most graduate students. We discuss how to implement the game in a classroom, suggest two problems from the game for students to solve, and present several solutions to the problems.