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How to Set a Random Clock: Remarks on Earnest (2006)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2006

Micah Altman
Affiliation:
Harvard University
Michael P. McDonald
Affiliation:
George Mason University

Extract

We read with interest David C. Earnest's recent (July 2006) PS article about the pedagogical challenges surrounding the statistical computation of pseudo-random numbers (PRNGs). We write to clarify some issues regarding the testing and setting of PRNG seeds, and to direct readers' attention to a set of resources for configuring computationally accurate simulations and statistical analyses.

Type
FORUM
Copyright
© 2006 The American Political Science Association

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References

Altman, Micah, Jeff Gill, and Michael P. McDonald. 2003. Numerical Issues in Statistical Computing for the Social Scientist. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Altman, Micah, and Michael P. McDonald. 2001. “Choosing Reliable Statistical Software.” PS: Political Science and Politics 34 (September): 6817.Google Scholar
Earnest, David C. 2006. “Clocks, Not Dartboards: A Tale of Students, Statistics, and the Pedagogical Challenges of Randomness.” PS: Political Science and Politics 39 (July): 52530.Google Scholar
McCullough, B. D. 1999. “Assessing the Reliability of Statistical Software: Part II.” American Statistician 53 (May): 14959.Google Scholar