The average might come in handy for certain data analyses, but is any one person really ‘average’?
Policymakers rely on models during uncertain times to figure out how their choices could affect the future. Over the pandemic, an ensemble of many COVID-19 models outperformed any one alone.
How doctors care for their patients is highly influenced by clinical guidelines. Recommendations based on anecdotal experience or poor data can harm patients.
People tend to dislike uncertainty and risk – two things that are hard to avoid completely during a pandemic. That’s part of why it can feel especially draining to make even small decisions these days.
People often try to seem confident and certain in their message so it will be trusted and acted upon. But when information is in flux, research suggests. you should be open about what you don’t know.
Just because something isn’t 100% certain doesn’t mean you ignore it, and other lessons from two researchers who study the problem of science denial.
Is it risky to sing in a choir? What are the risks of eating in a small restaurant? How much difference does it make to open windows or clean surfaces? New
High levels of uncertainty can make us obsessive compulsive, causing physical changes in the brain.
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