Explain difference-in-differences with an example

Last updated: May 12, 2026

Quick Overview

Explain difference-in-differences in simple terms and provide a concrete example.

Atlassian
Statistics & Math
Data Scientist
Atlassian
May 12, 2026
Data Scientist
Technical Screen
Statistics & Math
Easy

39

6

631 solved


Explain difference-in-differences in simple terms and provide a concrete example.

Statistics questions at Atlassian test your ability to reason quantitatively and design rigorous experiments. This Technical Screen question evaluates your understanding of statistical inference and its application to business decisions.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • State the correct formula or theorem with clear definitions
  • Apply the concept to the given scenario step by step
  • Interpret the result in plain language
  • Identify assumptions and when they might be violated
Key Topics to Cover
Power analysis and sample size calculation
Multiple testing correction (Bonferroni, FDR)
Probability distributions
Conditional probability and Bayes theorem
How to Approach This
  1. Define your hypotheses (H0 and H1) clearly before performing any test.
  2. Calculate required sample size BEFORE running an experiment, using power analysis.
  3. Remember the Central Limit Theorem: sample means become approximately normal with large n.
  4. Watch for Simpson's paradox. Always segment data by key dimensions.
  5. Distinguish between statistical significance and practical significance.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • How would you design a follow-up experiment based on these results?
  • What if the sample size is very small?
  • What alternative statistical method could you use here?
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