We all should be farmiliar with the H-R Diagram:
The diagram may look complicated but is actually a very nifty representaion of data about stars. Going left to right, along the x-axis, the temperature decreases. Going up the y-axis, the luminosity increases. There also happens to be a correleation with mass, as it too decreaes with the temperature along the x-axis. We then have our outliers; The giants having similar mass and temperature as thier main sequence counterparts, yet higher luminosity and the white dwards being just as hot yet far less luminous and less massive, as well.
Along the main sequence, we have stars as they are born, then the outliers are the later stages of these stars.
Below, I have a composed a similar diagram, though with different circumstances. It initialy plosts education vs. income though has other correlations tied to it, as well as some interesting outliers.
Along the x-axis we have education level, decreasing as you go right. Along the y-axis we have, on a logarithmic scale, weekly income in U.S dollars increasing upwards. The main sequence is the data plotted in blue. We can see a pretty clear trend, where a higher education level correlates with a higher income. It also happens that as we go down the main sequence (from top left to bottom right) unemployment increases.
So the gist of the matter can be summarized pretty simply: the better the education, the better the income. Following the main sequence, upward, seems like the best bet. Though what about the outliers? Looking at the outliers, we can see that higher education is not the only way to raise income. We can also see that a higher education doesn’t necessarily mean higher wages.
So, what are the other factors that affect income? Let us draw attention to the first outlier, Elon Musk. Musk only completed a bachelor of arts degree yet makes over a million dollars, per year. He is y a genious and it is his inherant intelligence that has raised his income so much. So even though Elon is far off the main sequence, we can still conclude that education (if you want to use intelligence and education interchangably) leads to higher income. So Elon is off the main sequence, yet follows the trend. What about the other outlier?
In the other case, we see that even with a PhD, a small outcome is a possibility. In the cases of little experience and even the type of degree, you could result with a low income, even with the highest education possible. So does this outlier follow the trend despite being off the main sequence, like Elon? There are arguments both ways.
In favor of this outlier following the trend, we could say that those degrees that are less favorable require less intelligence to obtain. We can also say that an individual’s choice to forgo extra experience during the summer, etc. is a sign of lower intelligence, as well. Maybe, even, as one goes along the main sequence, they dip down a few times before coming back up, all depending on experience.
Either way, this diagram gives us insight into the population we are observing. Since the statistics for this diagram were provided mostly by the United States Beura of Labor Statistic, we can say that Americans tend to value a higher education, financially, and higher intellignece in general corrolates with higher income.
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Data for the A-D Diagram provided by:
“Earnings and unemployment rates by educational attainment.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 22 May 2013. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 19 Oct. 2013 <http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_001.htm>.
“Compensation Information for Elon Musk , Chief Executive Officer, Product Architect and Chairman of TESLA MOTORS INC | Salary.com.” Salary.com. 19 Oct. 2013 <http://www1.salary.com/Elon-Musk-Salary-Bonus-Stock-Options-for-TESLA-MOTORS-INC.html>.
Sauro, Jeff. “How much is a PhD Worth?” : Measuring Usability. 5 Nov. 2009. 19 Oct. 2013 <http://www.measuringusability.com/usability-phd.php>.
