Your phone company is watching
With the recent trial and conviction of popular dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel, most Jamaicans were surprised to learn that both network providers (Digicel Jamaica & Lime Jamaica) store records...
View ArticleWhat’s your views on a Happy Planet Index?
Statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation’s success by its productivity — instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national...
View ArticleYes you should smile more & we have research to prove it :-)
There is a saying that goes like this, “smile a while and give your face a rest” – now, we have science to verify the validity of this statement :-). Below, Ron Gutman reviews several research studies...
View ArticleAnother good day for NCB’s shares: JSE Winners & Losers
Trading on the JSE main market saw 11 stocks being traded of which 5 advanced (winners), 1 declined (losers) and 5 traded firm (no movement in price). A total of 473,209 units were exchanged valued at...
View ArticleData visualization of HIV’s complex risk factors
Hans Rosling unveils new data visuals that untangle the complex risk factors of one of the world’s deadliest (and most misunderstood) diseases: HIV. He argues that preventing transmissions — not drug...
View ArticleData Collection: Credit Unions across Jamaica
We would like to thank all the Credit Union Managers who took time out of their busy schedule to accommodate us. See highlights: Filed under: Photo Gallery
View ArticleTeach statistics before calculus! Who agree?
Someone always asks the math teacher, “Am I going to use calculus in real life?” And for most of us, says Arthur Benjamin, the answer is no. He offers a bold proposal on how to make math education...
View ArticleMore women now die of heart disease than men [Research]
There are approximately 800,000 Jamaican women (20 – 64 years old) currently at risk of heart disease. Women under the age of 65, especially those with a family history of heart disease, should pay...
View ArticleWhy we make bad decisions [Video]
Dan Gilbert presents research and data from his exploration of happiness — sharing some surprising tests and experiments that you can also try on yourself. Watch through to the end for a sparkling...
View ArticleDare to be Different: 4 Best Practices
I was asked recently to present at a Youth Camp under the theme “Dare To Be Different”. The camp was held in the cool hills of NewPort, Manchester. I was overjoyed to share my experience with so many...
View ArticleTraining in the Electronic Data Collection System (EDACS)
Our team was trained in the use of eDACs, an automated paperless system developed by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). This partnership with STATIN is a match made in statistics! We will...
View ArticleIf you think money can’t buy happiness, you’re not spending it right!
Michael Norton shares fascinating research on how money can, indeed buy happiness — when you don’t spend it on yourself. Listen for surprising data on the many ways pro-social spending can benefit you,...
View ArticleSunlight’s impact on lowering blood pressure
It’s common knowledge that humans get Vitamin D from the sun, but as dermatologist Richard Weller suggests, sunlight may also have another surprising benefit. New research by his team shows that nitric...
View ArticleData Driven: Jamaican Schools Must Use Data To Improve Performance
Creating a data driven culture in Jamaica
View ArticleThis is how Small Businesses should use Market Research
Market research is very useful for small businesses. As a small business, especially doing something disruptive, you have to follow your gut much more than in other scenarios, for sure and there are...
View ArticleConducting Qualitative Research across Jamaica: Highlights
Team Balcostics recently concluded a qualitative research (Focus Groups & Qualitative Surveys) project involving youths, small and large scale farmers across 9 parishes in Jamaica. The following...
View ArticleFish Sanctuaries: Ensuring Jamaica’s Future Fish Supply
Recently we concluded a survey among fisherfolks across seven (7) fish sanctuaries in Jamaica
View ArticleTrademark Surveys: Combining Research and Law
Trademark confusion surveys bring together both of my passions – research & law. In the world of Intellectual Property, many companies are now ensuring that their trademarks are not confused with...
View ArticleData Collection on Pedro Cays
Over a two day visit to Pedro Cays (November 6th to 8th), which is about 80 km south and southwest of Jamaica, our team collected data through face-to-face interviews with fisherfolks. Here are some...
View ArticleWhat you think you know, but you don’t
In this very insightful TedTalk, Alan Smith outlined the false dichotomy that there are only two types of people: those who're good with numbers & those who're not.
View ArticleHow juries are fooled by statistics
Oxford mathematician Peter Donnelly reveals the common mistakes humans make in interpreting statistics — and the devastating impact these errors can have on the outcome of criminal trials.
View ArticleWhy smart statistics are the key to fighting crime
When she became the attorney general of New Jersey in 2007, Anne Milgram quickly discovered a few startling facts: not only did her team not really know who they were putting in jail, but they had no...
View ArticleJamaican exporters face significant constraints including high energy costs
This article examines the supply side constraints affecting export development in Jamaica.
View ArticleData Collection: August Town, St. Andrew
Over a three day period (October 12-14) , team Balcostics was in the community of August Town interviewing residents. Thank you to the residents of this community for their warm welcome. Here are photo...
View ArticleBalcostics in China: The 12th China-LAC Business Summit
Our first hand experience of participating in the 12th China-LAC Business Summit, held in Zhuhai, China.
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