Dr Pete McKenna
@pete-mck.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, Heriot-Watt University. Interests: #misinformation, #psychology, and #AI. Often tweet for #rstats advice & book recommendations. Father of #twins. Views own.
Great article on #misinformation: www.noemamag.com/we-failed-th...
"Simply put, the public is not easily moved by new pieces of information; rather, people are often motivated to interpret the information they are exposed to through the lens of their established worldview."
#research
#politics
"Simply put, the public is not easily moved by new pieces of information; rather, people are often motivated to interpret the information they are exposed to through the lens of their established worldview."
#research
#politics
We Failed The Misinformation Fight. Now What? | NOEMA
Defending democracy in the digital age will require moving beyond the focus of fighting online misinformation.
www.noemamag.com
September 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Great article on #misinformation: www.noemamag.com/we-failed-th...
"Simply put, the public is not easily moved by new pieces of information; rather, people are often motivated to interpret the information they are exposed to through the lens of their established worldview."
#research
#politics
"Simply put, the public is not easily moved by new pieces of information; rather, people are often motivated to interpret the information they are exposed to through the lens of their established worldview."
#research
#politics
I've just found out that Apple's Pages app does not detect additional whitespace in its grammar check, and I honestly can't believe it. I thought all Apple software was superior to us poor MS users. Not so it seems!
August 27, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I've just found out that Apple's Pages app does not detect additional whitespace in its grammar check, and I honestly can't believe it. I thought all Apple software was superior to us poor MS users. Not so it seems!
🚨 MSc Social and Behavioural Research Methods - apply now! 🚨
Are you considering a future in research and want study in Edinburgh?
Our programme is designed to equip you with the advanced skills and expertise needed to transition seamlessly into doctoral study.
Apply here: lnkd.in/eHKSaHkM
Are you considering a future in research and want study in Edinburgh?
Our programme is designed to equip you with the advanced skills and expertise needed to transition seamlessly into doctoral study.
Apply here: lnkd.in/eHKSaHkM
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
July 30, 2025 at 10:54 AM
🚨 MSc Social and Behavioural Research Methods - apply now! 🚨
Are you considering a future in research and want study in Edinburgh?
Our programme is designed to equip you with the advanced skills and expertise needed to transition seamlessly into doctoral study.
Apply here: lnkd.in/eHKSaHkM
Are you considering a future in research and want study in Edinburgh?
Our programme is designed to equip you with the advanced skills and expertise needed to transition seamlessly into doctoral study.
Apply here: lnkd.in/eHKSaHkM
Hi BlueSky, I'm looking to build up a network of researchers (from all disciplines) studying #misinformation. My intention is to create safer online environment for my kids, by understanding misinformation better and developing guardrails. If this is you drop me a line!
#research
#fakenews
#science
#research
#fakenews
#science
July 2, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Hi BlueSky, I'm looking to build up a network of researchers (from all disciplines) studying #misinformation. My intention is to create safer online environment for my kids, by understanding misinformation better and developing guardrails. If this is you drop me a line!
#research
#fakenews
#science
#research
#fakenews
#science
Excellent piece from Moira Donegan on the Blue Origin flight:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#feminism
#blueorigin
#space
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#feminism
#blueorigin
#space
The Blue Origin flight showcased the utter defeat of American feminism | Moira Donegan
The trip leaned on a vision of women’s empowerment that is light on substance and heavy on a childlike, girlish silliness
www.theguardian.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Excellent piece from Moira Donegan on the Blue Origin flight:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#feminism
#blueorigin
#space
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#feminism
#blueorigin
#space
@jbengler.de thanks a bunch for Tidyplots. Really enjoying it's utility (for research and teaching) and am currently preparing a manuscript with several tidy plots - I can share once published. I noticed you added the 'comparisons' parameter for grouped plots. Any ideas when this will be ready?
April 11, 2025 at 1:50 PM
@jbengler.de thanks a bunch for Tidyplots. Really enjoying it's utility (for research and teaching) and am currently preparing a manuscript with several tidy plots - I can share once published. I noticed you added the 'comparisons' parameter for grouped plots. Any ideas when this will be ready?
Reposted by Dr Pete McKenna
Hi #programming folks. Is it possible for someone to write a Win11 script that defaults all apps to full screen at launch? I'm getting frustrated with the randomness of launch app size and location on the desktop (sometimes inaccessible).
#software
#win11
#code
#debug
#software
#win11
#code
#debug
April 3, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Hi #programming folks. Is it possible for someone to write a Win11 script that defaults all apps to full screen at launch? I'm getting frustrated with the randomness of launch app size and location on the desktop (sometimes inaccessible).
#software
#win11
#code
#debug
#software
#win11
#code
#debug
"...a key problem has been that instead of facilitating academic work, these systems have created obstacles to performing the core mission. Corporate academia is subverting academic life. It’s destroying academia from within."
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
On the responsibilities of intellectuals and the rise of bullshit jobs in universities
You may never have considered yourself to be one. Why would you? But if you’re reading this, there is more than a likelihood that you are one. If you’re a
academic.oup.com
March 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
"...a key problem has been that instead of facilitating academic work, these systems have created obstacles to performing the core mission. Corporate academia is subverting academic life. It’s destroying academia from within."
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
Reposted by Dr Pete McKenna
Rdatasets is a collection of 2300 free and documented datasets in CSV format. It's a great resource for teaching and exploration!
The new `get_dataset()` function from the {marginaleffects} 📦 allows you to search and load them directly in #Rstats.
vincentarelbundock.github.io/Rdatasets/ar...
The new `get_dataset()` function from the {marginaleffects} 📦 allows you to search and load them directly in #Rstats.
vincentarelbundock.github.io/Rdatasets/ar...
February 14, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Rdatasets is a collection of 2300 free and documented datasets in CSV format. It's a great resource for teaching and exploration!
The new `get_dataset()` function from the {marginaleffects} 📦 allows you to search and load them directly in #Rstats.
vincentarelbundock.github.io/Rdatasets/ar...
The new `get_dataset()` function from the {marginaleffects} 📦 allows you to search and load them directly in #Rstats.
vincentarelbundock.github.io/Rdatasets/ar...
#rstats folks, the following inline error is not conveyed in an error message - turns out \textit is a problem (it italicises maths expressions anyway!)
# not this
$\beta_{1_\textit{_var1}} = \beta_{1_\textit{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
# do this
$\beta_{1_{_var1}} = \beta_{1_{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
# not this
$\beta_{1_\textit{_var1}} = \beta_{1_\textit{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
# do this
$\beta_{1_{_var1}} = \beta_{1_{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
February 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
#rstats folks, the following inline error is not conveyed in an error message - turns out \textit is a problem (it italicises maths expressions anyway!)
# not this
$\beta_{1_\textit{_var1}} = \beta_{1_\textit{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
# do this
$\beta_{1_{_var1}} = \beta_{1_{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
# not this
$\beta_{1_\textit{_var1}} = \beta_{1_\textit{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
# do this
$\beta_{1_{_var1}} = \beta_{1_{_var2}} + \beta_{3}$
#rstats here's how 2 calc proportions for 2+ categorical vars
total_n <-
nrow(df) # nrow counts the number of rows
df |>
group_by(cat_var_1, cat_var_2) |>
summarise(n = n(),
.groups = 'drop') |>
mutate(freq = n / total_n) |>
mutate(freq = round(freq * 100, digits = 2))
total_n <-
nrow(df) # nrow counts the number of rows
df |>
group_by(cat_var_1, cat_var_2) |>
summarise(n = n(),
.groups = 'drop') |>
mutate(freq = n / total_n) |>
mutate(freq = round(freq * 100, digits = 2))
February 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
#rstats here's how 2 calc proportions for 2+ categorical vars
total_n <-
nrow(df) # nrow counts the number of rows
df |>
group_by(cat_var_1, cat_var_2) |>
summarise(n = n(),
.groups = 'drop') |>
mutate(freq = n / total_n) |>
mutate(freq = round(freq * 100, digits = 2))
total_n <-
nrow(df) # nrow counts the number of rows
df |>
group_by(cat_var_1, cat_var_2) |>
summarise(n = n(),
.groups = 'drop') |>
mutate(freq = n / total_n) |>
mutate(freq = round(freq * 100, digits = 2))
Typically sensationalised headline here. How about pointing readers to the study instead?
BBC News - Phone bans in schools don't help grades or health, study suggests - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Phone bans in schools don't help grades or health, study suggests - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Phone bans in schools don't help grades or health, study suggests
It is the first study to look at school phone rules, alongside measures of pupil health and education.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Typically sensationalised headline here. How about pointing readers to the study instead?
BBC News - Phone bans in schools don't help grades or health, study suggests - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Phone bans in schools don't help grades or health, study suggests - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hi #rstats, a beginner R student of mine was asking how to read in multiple datasets of the same format into R. Didn't want to scare them away with lists and stringr...any recomended resources to ease them in? tia
February 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Hi #rstats, a beginner R student of mine was asking how to read in multiple datasets of the same format into R. Didn't want to scare them away with lists and stringr...any recomended resources to ease them in? tia
Hi #rstats people, just letting you know that R Markdown images will not appear in your compiled doc if you include "%" in the image file name, e.g.,
 # will not work
 # should work fine
Took me a while to figure out what was going on!
 # will not work
 # should work fine
Took me a while to figure out what was going on!
January 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Hi #rstats people, just letting you know that R Markdown images will not appear in your compiled doc if you include "%" in the image file name, e.g.,
 # will not work
 # should work fine
Took me a while to figure out what was going on!
 # will not work
 # should work fine
Took me a while to figure out what was going on!
Reposted by Dr Pete McKenna
Listen to his powerful, exclusive interview, out now 👇
globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
@maitlis.bsky.social
@lewisgoodall.com
globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
@maitlis.bsky.social
@lewisgoodall.com
January 8, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Listen to his powerful, exclusive interview, out now 👇
globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
@maitlis.bsky.social
@lewisgoodall.com
globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
@maitlis.bsky.social
@lewisgoodall.com
Me: I'd like to explore potentially more affordable car finance options please.
Salesman: Sure! First up is our latest model costing you an extra £100 a month.
Me: ...right. Let's start again.
Salesman: Sure! First up is our latest model costing you an extra £100 a month.
Me: ...right. Let's start again.
January 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Me: I'd like to explore potentially more affordable car finance options please.
Salesman: Sure! First up is our latest model costing you an extra £100 a month.
Me: ...right. Let's start again.
Salesman: Sure! First up is our latest model costing you an extra £100 a month.
Me: ...right. Let's start again.
Reposted by Dr Pete McKenna
Spiders don't have antennae like insects, so how do they smell?
WITH THEIR FRIGGIN' LEGS (well, male spiders at least) 🦵👃
Olfactory organs similar to those in antennae were found in male spiders' upper legs, but not in juveniles or females. This suggests smell is for mate detection/recognition
🧪🌏🕷️
WITH THEIR FRIGGIN' LEGS (well, male spiders at least) 🦵👃
Olfactory organs similar to those in antennae were found in male spiders' upper legs, but not in juveniles or females. This suggests smell is for mate detection/recognition
🧪🌏🕷️
Our work on spider olfactory sensilla featured in The Conversation
theconversation.com/spiders-smel...
🧪
theconversation.com/spiders-smel...
🧪
Spiders ‘smell’ with their legs – new research
As spiders do not have antennae as insects, it’s long been a mystery how they can smell.
theconversation.com
January 14, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Spiders don't have antennae like insects, so how do they smell?
WITH THEIR FRIGGIN' LEGS (well, male spiders at least) 🦵👃
Olfactory organs similar to those in antennae were found in male spiders' upper legs, but not in juveniles or females. This suggests smell is for mate detection/recognition
🧪🌏🕷️
WITH THEIR FRIGGIN' LEGS (well, male spiders at least) 🦵👃
Olfactory organs similar to those in antennae were found in male spiders' upper legs, but not in juveniles or females. This suggests smell is for mate detection/recognition
🧪🌏🕷️
Hi #rstats folks, does anyone have advice about presenting reveal.js slides on Canvas VLE? When I save reveal.js as pdf from a browser the formatting goes completely awry!
#quarto
#programing
#rstudio
#canvas
#quarto
#programing
#rstudio
#canvas
January 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Hi #rstats folks, does anyone have advice about presenting reveal.js slides on Canvas VLE? When I save reveal.js as pdf from a browser the formatting goes completely awry!
#quarto
#programing
#rstudio
#canvas
#quarto
#programing
#rstudio
#canvas
Why is it that I'm inundated with review requests during the holidays? Is there some great titanic clash of academic calendars I'm unaware of? Very odd.
December 30, 2024 at 9:02 PM
Why is it that I'm inundated with review requests during the holidays? Is there some great titanic clash of academic calendars I'm unaware of? Very odd.
Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate it 🎄 My secret Santa fully understood the brief!
#statistics
#Xmas
#academia
#statistics
#Xmas
#academia
December 25, 2024 at 6:14 PM
Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate it 🎄 My secret Santa fully understood the brief!
#statistics
#Xmas
#academia
#statistics
#Xmas
#academia
Reposted by Dr Pete McKenna
webb and chandra combined images 🤩
December 22, 2024 at 3:03 AM
webb and chandra combined images 🤩