The distribution zoo app to help to understand and use probability distributions

This video introduces an app called 'The distribution zoo' to help understand and apply statistical distributions in research. This app (available here: ben18785.shiny...) allows a user to do the following:
- Dynamically change the parameters of 24 distributions, ranging from fairly simple cases (for example, normal or Poisson), up to more complex cases such as the LKJ correlation distribution, and investigate how these parameters affect the resultant distributional properties, including plots of the probability density function or probability mass function, histograms of the sampling distribution for some cases where the PDFs are hard to visualise, and cumulative distribution functions where appropriate.
- The app contains dynamic code snippets in R, Python, Matlab, Mathematica, Julia and Stan, which reflect changes in the parameter values. Importantly, for each distribution and parameter set, these functions should give equivalent results across all five languages. For me, this is really useful, since different languages have different parameterisations and some (Python!) have really non-standard parameterisations, which can make translating code from one language to another tricky.
- The app contains detailed and vetted formulae for each distribution giving useful properties. These formulae are also available in LaTeX form to make using them in articles, reports and so on simpler.
Because it’s been deployed to the web, you can use this app anywhere. Look at the zoo of distributions on your laptop, tablet or smartphone!
This video is part of a lecture course which closely follows the material covered in the book, "A Student's Guide to Bayesian Statistics", published by Sage, which is available to order on Amazon here: www.amazon.co....
For more information on all things Bayesian, have a look at: ben-lambert.co.... The playlist for the lecture course is here: • A Student's Guide to B...
The Github page for the app's development is here: github.com/ben...

[@Xaelum]

Being able to easily visualize the properties of each distribution is a great, and the fact that you can get the code for each one makes it even greater.
Amazing job!

[@jacobpastorpaz4081]

Brillant ! Thanks for making of this world a better and easier place.

[@FarshadHaghpanah]

Thank you! Words are powerless to express my gratitude.

[@FPrimeHD1618]

This is awesome! You know what would be cool, is adding into the plot the values for skew & kurtosis.

[@SpartacanUsuals]

Hi, thanks for your comment and excellent suggestion. I have added it to my list of things! Best, Ben

[@Sycolog]

This is so great! Would it be possible to add a short text about how each distribution arises? e.g.: "the normal distribution arises when many random factors with a finite variance are added up such as in growth, where peoples heigt is affected in small ways by many random factors"

[@erickknackstedt3131]

This looks incredibly well done. Thank you!

[@tiankhean]

I just discovered your UA-cam Channel. You are fantastic. I am 73 years old and retired. For the first time I fully understand statistical concepts like Cointegration and how to use probability distributions. And many more... just by viewing your videos. Now I will practice on Excel and try to find a Free Add-in for more advanced functions that Excel does not have.Do you know of any? Regards, Ng Tian Khean (Singapore)

[@syalamaliwira9692]

Thanks for your support and information Sir 🙏

[@yulinliu850]

Excellent tool! Thanks a lot, Ben!

[@donchoa.developer]

Amazing, thanks alot.

[@Roundhay2718]

This is a Thing of Beauty

[@alirezamahalatir3124]

Great job. Thank you!

[@chyldstudios]

Thanks for sharing!

[@burakdindaroglu8948]

Brilliant tool. Thanks.

[@alicelyu3778]

Love this app! Could you please consider open source this project? Would be wonderful if we can integrate more related resource into it

[@alicelyu3778]

Poisson distribution seems missing?

[@marcmurta4204]

Awesome app! The dynamic code generation is great!

[@gueyenono]

This is a shiny app, which means that you are an R user. That's really great to know!!! Hopefully, we'll see some practical econometrics with R alongside the masterfully elaborated theories in your videos.

[@Maha_s1999]

Really useful app to replace outdated/buggy apps available on the internet. Didn't know about the LKJ distribution, so thanks for introducing it as it sounds interesting. Would you consider making a video about that in the future in the context of its applications? The code for creating random samples is boon. Thanks as always Ben, your videos are spot on!

[@SpartacanUsuals]

Hi, thanks for your comment and kind words. That's a good idea about a video on the LKJ distribution -- I will add it to the list. Best, Ben

[@joeyng9754]

Thanks for the App Ben

[@omgitsbenhayes]

Great tool, thanks!

[@cornagojar]

well done, keep up the good work!

[@Muneh14]

Thanks , i need that

[@MUHAMMAD-ny1ym]

amazing video

[@JP-mu2kd]

Thanks a lot for your contribution to stats community ! I am a professor teaching intro to stats to political science students and your software is very helpful for my teaching.

[@icanfast]

Amazing app!
One suggestion being to place a link to Wikipedia or some other article on the distribution, maybe on formulae tab.