Browse IFS
Publication types
cemmap Working Papers
October 2008 CWP28/08
Article
The median is the message: Wilson and Hilferty's reanalysis of C.S. Peirce's experiments on the law of errors
Type: cemmap Working Papers
Authors: Roger Koenker
Now published in: American Statistician [Details]

Data is reanalyzed from an important series of 19th century experiments conducted by C. S. Peirce and designed to study the plausibility of the Gaussian law of errors for astronomical observations. Contrary to the findings of Peirce, but in accordance with subsequent analysis by Frechet and Wilson and Hilferty, we find normality implausible and medians an attractive alternative to means for the analysis.

Download full version (PDF 429 KB)

Search

Title (or part of title)
Author surname (or part of surname)