What is Seeing Theory?
Seeing Theory teaches probability and statistics through interactive visualizations. Instead of formulas first, you flip coins, roll dice, draw samples and drag sliders, and watch the charts change as you go.
It is split into six chapters: basic probability, compound probability, probability distributions, frequentist inference, Bayesian inference and regression analysis. It was created by Daniel Kunin while he was an undergraduate at Brown University, built with D3.js, and is available in English, Chinese and Spanish. The site is now archived for reference, but every chapter still works, and a draft textbook is free to download as a PDF.
Main Features
- Six chapters from basic probability to regression
- Interactive coin, dice and sampling demos
- Visual takes on the central limit theorem and Bayes' theorem
- Short text explanations alongside each demo
- English, Chinese and Spanish versions
- A free draft textbook to download as a PDF
How to Get Started with Seeing Theory
- Open seeing-theory.brown.edu.
- Click Start or pick a chapter.
- Read the short intro to each section.
- Play with the demo, such as flipping the coin 100 times.
- Move on to the next section or download the PDF book.
Seeing Theory Pricing
Seeing Theory is free, with no paid plan.
Who Should Use It?
- Students taking their first statistics class
- Teachers who want visual demos for class
- Data people brushing up on the basics
- Anyone who finds statistics hard to picture
Seeing Theory Alternatives
- How Random Are You? tests how well you can act randomly.
- The Evolution of Trust is an interactive guide to game theory and trust.
- Parable of the Polygons is a playable explainer on how small biases add up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seeing Theory free?
Yes. The site and the draft PDF textbook are free.
What does Seeing Theory teach?
Probability and statistics, from chance events and distributions to inference and regression.
Who made Seeing Theory?
Daniel Kunin created it while an undergraduate at Brown University, with a small team.
Is the site still working?
Yes. It is archived for reference, but all the chapters and demos still work.