Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Beer-Drinking Scientist Debunks Productivity Correlation

Posted by kdawson on from the sipping-a-magnificent-pacific-northwest-microbrew-porter dept.

austinpoet writes in with a blog post debunking the theory we discussed a few days back that scientists' beer consumption is linearly correlated with the quality of their work. Chris Mack, Gentleman Scientist and beer drinker, has analyzed the paper and found it is severely flawed. From his analysis: "The discovered linear relationship between beer consumption and scientific output had a correlation coefficient (R-squared) of only about 0.5 — not very high by my standards, though I suspect many biologists would be happy to get one that high in their work... Thus, the entire study came down to only one conclusion: the five worst ornithologists in the Czech Republic drank a lot of beer."

21 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Simply put by schnikies79 · · Score: 5, Funny

    beer > coffee/caffeine

    --
    Gone!
    1. Re:Simply put by explosivejared · · Score: 5, Funny

      beer > coffee/caffeine >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> girls

      --
      I got a catholic block.
    2. Re:Simply put by Phil246 · · Score: 3, Funny

      girls?
      what is this mythical substance of which you speak?

    3. Re:Simply put by edwardpickman · · Score: 5, Funny

      Beer=Pretty Girl>Morning=Ugly Girl

    4. Re:Simply put by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Funny

      Funny, for me Beer = Pretty Girl = embarrassment = sleeping alone = hangover.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  2. In Other news by omarmarosh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Scientists Claim there is a direct correlation b/w pot smokers and an amazing talent to link string theory with life on mars

    --
    too scared to forget random user names
    1. Re:In Other news by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Funny

      Scientists Claim there is a direct correlation b/w pot smokers and an amazing talent to link string theory with life on mars


      That was based on a misquote. The original conversation was 'Dude...do you think they have string cheese on Mars...like that would be so coool. Pass the Doritos?'

  3. Maybe by iminplaya · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's more about the quality of their beer. Not that I have anything against Pilsen. I think they make a perfectly fine beer over there.

    --
    What?
  4. Re:Hmm... do we need either of these studies? by Tranzistors · · Score: 5, Funny

    When bored, hackers write viruses, scientists - papers.

    Disclaimer, I am non of the above.

  5. Re:Hmm... do we need either of these studies? by ArsonSmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think what you refer to is known as the "Ballmer Peak" shown on this graph:

    Here

    --
    Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.
  6. Sketch... by amccaf1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    [...] the five worst ornithologists in the Czech Republic drank a lot of beer [...]


    This has to be a lost Monty Python sketch, right?
    --
    "Flag on the moon. How did it get there?"
    1. Re:Sketch... by darkfish32 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm pretty sure, knowing the Czechs, that the five best drank their fair amount as well.

  7. Few... by Josh+Booth · · Score: 3, Funny

    So it's safe to drink beer again. And to think I was actually going to cut down!

  8. Re:We all know what to do now: by oldhack · · Score: 4, Funny

    Some suggestions:

    Pilsener Urquell vs. Milwaukee's Best
    Budvar vs. Old Milwaukee

    --
    Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
  9. Re:Hmm... do we need either of these studies? by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Well, I don't care if some people DO think beer is bad for ya....

    I refuse to give up one entire food group!!!

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  10. Perhaps there is a cause and effect by Peter+Cooper · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you were one of the five worst scientists in a field in the Czech Republic, you'd probably turn to drink, right?

  11. So, how did the 5 ornithologists respond to him? by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 4, Funny

    They gave him the bird!

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  12. I can't believe no one said it? by KGIII · · Score: 2, Funny

    *burp*

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  13. Re:Not only that by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 5, Funny

    In order to find a correlation where the input IV (beer consumption)


    If you consume beer through an IV I think you're a different type of drinker.
    --
    Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
  14. Re:We all know what to do now: by Maljin+Jolt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Pilsener Urquell vs. Milwaukee's Best
    Budvar vs. Old Milwaukee

    Type Error: can't compare incompatible types.

    --
    There you are, staring at me again.
  15. Re:Not only that by l0cust · · Score: 2, Funny

    I am pretty sure we will need one full crate of lager before most of us can make out wtf you two guys are talking about.

    --
    Politicians and Pedophiles: Two groups of exploitive bastards who are most dangerous when they're thinking of children.