Explain regression discontinuity with an example

Last updated: March 8, 2026

Quick Overview

Explain regression discontinuity in simple terms and provide a concrete example.

Anduril
Statistics & Math
Data Scientist
Anduril
March 8, 2026
Data Scientist
Onsite
Statistics & Math
Hard

10

6

2,834 solved


Explain regression discontinuity in simple terms and provide a concrete example.

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

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Derive results from first principles when needed
  • Handle complex scenarios with multiple interacting variables
  • Design experiments that account for real-world complications
  • Discuss advanced topics: Bayesian methods, causal inference, resampling
  • Connect statistical concepts to business decision-making
  • Identify subtle errors in reasoning (Simpson's paradox, survivorship bias)
Key Topics to Cover
Conditional probability and Bayes theorem
Hypothesis testing (H0, H1, p-values)
Regression analysis
Confidence intervals and significance levels
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
  • What assumptions does this test make, and how would you validate them?
  • What alternative statistical method could you use here?
  • How would you explain this result to a non-technical audience?
  • What if the sample size is very small?
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Setting Up the Problem

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