How is Great Data Science Like The Sports Illustrated 2016 Swimsuit Issue?
Three Very Specific Analogies You Probably Never Considered
Pardon the clickbait, but this short read was intended both to get your attention and teach you a little bit about the world of data science. Three simple analogies inspired by SI’s choice of three cover girls for this years addition.
Answer #1: They both feature a diverse set of fantastic models.
Hailey Clauson, Ashley Graham, and Ronda Rousey cover a fairly broad spectrum, especially when compared to other similar publications. A broader spectrum would be even better for data science, where models need to be representative of your population. Sampling only the young and beautiful members surely works for SI, but not your data science team.
Models should be the primary focus of any data science team, they certainly are for SI’s Swimsuit Issue. Data Scientists create models that allow a business to view their portfolio from any number of angles. Models and simulations allow a business to test new positions, stretch their understanding, and pose questions that are difficult to test directly with their customer base.
Answer #2: Their models often have amazing curves.
Curves are the friend of many a data scientist. Curve fitting and development is a primary responsibility of most analysts and modelers. Curves create a smooth and appealing representation of discreet data samples and observations. It wouldn’t even be unusual to hear a data scientist refer to a response or risk curve as sexy.
Ashley Graham has probably brought curves to a new level, at least for an SI cover models. Her inclusion was not without a little controversy, but that is par for the course among data scientists. Curves define a model and not everyone is going to agree on all the details. The key for data scientists is that their curves are representative. Perhaps the marketing department at SI finally spent a little time with their analytics team?
Answer #3: Measurements, Proportions, and Fit
Data scientists are always looking for better measurements. They weight and score seeking ideal proportions and the best statistical fit. No seriously, you can’t make this stuff up. While Sports Illustrated is most concerned with measurements and proportions that sell magazines, data scientists are looking numbers that best fit their test populations.
Ronda Rousey has redefined many things in her career. She has certainly redefined the phrase “Fight Like A Girl”. Now she and Sports Illustrated are doing their best to redefine the term fit, or at least push it to a new level. Data scientists will appreciate the effort as they too seek to push the fit of their scores and models to higher and higher levels. Only Ronda Rousey in body paint may be a level beyond…
Extra Credit: Statistics and Bikinis
These two words may not seem to have much in common. But a fun quote attributed to two different men might provides another provocative analogy.
Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. — — Aaron Levenstein
Medical statistics are a little bit like a bikini: what they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. — — Irving R. Levine
Statistics reveal a good deal about the world around us, but the definitions and assumption that define them are often obscured and more telling. Many a lie has been sold on the back of statistics that concealed their true definition. This two sentence quote, whether the work of Levine, Levenstein, or some unknown author, is a short and catchy way to remember the important fact. While a bit longer, hopefully this article has done the same for your understanding of data science.
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