The Hot Hand in Sports blog provides information and data regarding hot hand.Hot hand is the concept of winning streaks in sports, and the author includes the effect that a winning streak or losing streak has on subsequent performance.
This site contains a collection of sports-related blog entries that use charts to analyze and present the trends.
Type of Material:
Case Study (with collection of articles)
Recommended Uses:
The site would be useful for statistics courses as well as courses in Sports Psychology or Exercise Science. The material could be employed for in-class demonstrations as well as individual or team assignments.
Technical Requirements:
The site can be surfed effectively with any browser.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
• Students will learn information on the effects of winning and losing streaks on later performance in sports. {Relevant websites, links to other researchers in the field, and many additional references are included as well.]
• Students will see how charts can be used to display data in various ways.
Target Student Population:
Any college major or discipline of any level could use this material to introduce the effect itself or to demonstrates how statistics can be used to examine an effect. Students learning about research methods will find the material particularly interesting. High school students would need additional information to understand the effect and the mathematics behind it.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Some statistical knowledge would be beneficial but is not required.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
• The articles contain a diverse collection of charts that display the results of various sports trends. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy reading the articles. The author’s writing style is clear and understandable. Each chart is explained in detail.
• The site provides data on the topic along with analysis and links to additional information.
Concerns:
• The blog approach is contemporary and engaging, and the site includes many references and resources. It should be noted, though, that this approach does not incorporate peer review.
• It would be very beneficial if the site referenced the hot hand fallacy as this would make a nice comparison and provide a teachable moment.
• Where the author notes a statistically significant effect for a small sample (e.g., the hockey example with 16 observations), it would be interesting to hear about the importance/implications of bivariate normality (or lack thereof).
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
• The presentation of information is clear and easy to understand. For those with minimal understanding of sports and/or statistics, a little support would assist them in understanding the analyses discussed. The point made that the streaks are what affects future performance also helps pull some of the superstition out of the topic.
• Students who enjoy sports will relate to the blog entries and will find them interesting enough to delve more deeply into the research.
Concerns:
• Given the sports theme, it is possible that the concept will only work for a limited audience; there might be few college courses that could incorporate it into the curriculum.
• Although charts are shown, instructors would need to develop additional materials or information to support student learning. For example, to really pull superstition from the topic, one would want to include hot hand fallacy.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
• The blog approach provides an easy read that will particularly engage sports enthusiasts.
• There are links to additional articles, and the charts are well laid out.
Concerns:
• Instructors will need to develop instructions or indications of what the student should focus on if they are assigned to read this material for a course.
Other Issues and Comments:
A uniquely interesting and engaging concept to bring to courses in research methods and statistics.
Creative Commons:
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