3.16 Models: Example: Mean as a model

  • Mathematical equation
  • Summaries data (reduces data/predicts data with fewer parameters)
  • Simple model: Mean of the distribution of a variable
ˉy=y1+y2++ynn=nitrust2006in=406686633=6.13


0123456789100
trust2006

yi=¯y±εi

trust2006Anna=3=¯y±εAnna=6.133.13

  • Mean (= model) predicts Anna’s value with a certain error