A Sample that's Skewed

Lyrics copyright by Robert Carver
may sing to the tune of "Runaround Sue" (Ernie Maresca and Dion DiMucci)

Here's my story, sad but true
About a sample that I once drew
It raised my hopes, but now I'm a wreck
'Cause the assumptions I forgot to check.

(vamp: Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho-Ho-Ho-Ho, etc.)

Ah, if I had just looked at the very start
My stats professor would have thought me smart
Now listen people what I'm telling you
A-keep away from a sample that's skewed.

I ran my t-test in the proper way
Thought I'd reject H-nought for H-a
But my sample was small, so now I'm screwed
I was misled by a sample that's skewed

(vamp: Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho-Ho-Ho-Ho, etc.)

Ah, the mean can travel around
When a long tail pulls it up or down
Now people, let me put you wise
Check conditions when you hypothesize.

Here's the moral of the story from a guy who knows
Pay attention to what you suppose
It makes a diff'rence, I'm telling you, dude:
A-keep away from a sample that's skewed.

{reprise}

Ah, the mean can travel around
When a long tail pulls it up or down
Now people, let me put you wise
Check conditions when you hypothesize.

Here's the moral of the story from a guy who knows
Pay attention to what you suppose
It makes a diff'rence, I'm telling you, dude:
A-keep away from a sample that's skewed.