February 1, 2018 (Vol. 38, No. 3)
Rating:
Strong Points: Nicely designed, good instructions for use
Weak Points: Offers little background information or introduction to statistics
Platform:
iPhone/iPad/Android
Cost:
Free
Summary:
Students of statistics and researchers in search of a stats review will appreciate the Probability-Distributions app designed by Dr. Matthew Bognar at the University of Iowa. The app includes graphical depictions and/or calculations associated with ten different distributions including normal, chi-square, and exponential distributions, among others. The ten distributions are listed on the home screen. Upon selecting one, users are taken to a screen wherein they can enter the relevant parameters and perform probability calculations. Within each distribution-specific screen, users can access three pages: help (which provides brief instructions on how to enter information on that screen), formulas (which provides additional information from the internet), and moments (corresponding to specific statistical measures). The app is nicely designed and easy to use, though it will be most useful to people who already have some background knowledge of statistics. Besides a basic how-to, the app doesn’t include much background information.
