Can people be random?: a maths EPQ idea
A title to start from
Can people generate random sequences, and how can statistics tell?
Why it works as an EPQ
Your own experiment, simple tests that you design, and a clear conclusion.
Scope and difficulty
Accessible. Accessible. One experiment with consenting volunteers and two or three tests.
The maths
Builds on these A Level topics: Hypothesis testing · Probability · Statistical distributions.
You would learn:
- Runs tests
- Expected streak lengths
- Simulation of null distributions
One possible plan
- Ask volunteers to write 'random' coin sequences, anonymously and with consent.
- Compare with real coin tosses on runs and longest streak.
- Build each test's null distribution by simulation.
- Judge what people get wrong and why.
Pitfalls
- Collecting names with responses.
- Using one test only.
Where to start reading
- The Drunkard's Walk (Leonard Mlodinow)
- Search for: runs test randomness
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