Friday Evening

Speaker: Neil Lutsky, Carleton College, Department of Psychology

Talk Title: Why the Word “Lies” Will Never Appear in My QR Talk Title

Abstract: Would you buy an argument from people who suggest their field is saturated with lies, misrepresentations, and misuses? This talk will consider consequences of negative framings of quantitative reasoning and statistics, as represented, for example, in the titles of these prominent works: How to Lie with Statistics (Huff, 1954), Damned Lies and Statistics (Best, 2001), The Numbers Game (Blastland & Dilnot, 2009) and A Field Guide to Lies (Levitin, 2016). I’ll suggest misrepresentations of numbers in argument, from the perspective of the psychology of human reasoning, reflect a tendency to which we are all prone—confirmation bias—and which can even be seen in a self-critical assessment of my own argument. A take-home message of the presentation will be that we should, in contrast, highlight and promote ways in which quantitative reasoning offers significant and illuminating insights for the lives we navigate and share.

Speaker Bio: Neil Lutsky is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Psychology at Carleton College, where he teaches courses in social psychology, positive psychology, and quantitative reasoning. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and was the 2011 recipient of the American Psychological Foundation’s Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award and the 2018 recipient of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring Award. He directed a 2004-2008 U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant to Carleton on “Quantitative Inquiry, Reasoning, and Knowledge,” and has served on the Board of Directors of the National Numeracy Network.

Saturday Afternoon

Speakers: Laura Muller, The Jackson Laboratory, and Melissa Eblen-Zayas, Carleton College

Talk Title and Abstract: Forthcoming

Speaker Bios: Forthcoming

In person (USD)

Early Bird (Deadline August 31) - $125

Regular - $150

Friday Dinner - $30

Discounted - $50 for K-12 teachers; Community & 2-year Colleges; CEGEP; Students; Postdocs; Sessionals; Retired; Unemployed

Online (USD)

Regular - $75

Discounted - $50 for K-12 teachers; Community & 2-year Colleges; CEGEP; Students; Postdocs; Sessionals; Retired; Unemployed

Trinity University

Campus maps and rooms will be announced later.

The San Antonio Airport (SAT) is just 9 minutes away from the University. Once at the airport, if you are staying at the Courtyard by Marriott–San Antonio Airport, there will be a designated shuttle to and from the University at designated times (more information about this is forthcoming to conference participants). Alternatively, ride-sharing services are readily available throughout the city.

We have arranged for a discounted block of rooms, as well as shuttle service to and from Trinity University, with Courtard by Marriott–San Antonio Airport. Room prices range from $109-149 USD before taxes. You may access that block of rooms using the link here. More information about shuttle service will be shared with conference registrants.