Discrete Probability Distributions: The Poisson Distribution (STAT I

Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

In this lecture-style video, I discuss the Poisson distribution, its relationship to the binomial distribution, and work through examples. (Pitched at the level of an applied intro stats course at university.)

This is a full lecture for my STAT I course, where I work through my lecture outline document (a condensed version of my full textbook chapter on discrete probability distributions). My students have these documents.

If you're looking for a shorter, scripted introduction to the Poisson distribution, I have that here: youtube.com/watch?v=jmqZG6roVqU

The "Poisson or Not?" Video I bring up in this video: youtube.com/watch?v=sv_KXSiorFk

(In the coming year, I'll be releasing additional shorter videos on specific topics in statistics, along with more of these lecture-style videos.)

Discrete Probability Distributions: The Poisson Distribution (STAT I – Full Lecture)

The Poisson Distribution: Introduction (fast version)

Finding Percentiles Using the Standard Normal Table (for tables that give the area to left of z)

Hypothesis Tests on One Mean: A t Test Example

Basics of Probability: Unions, Intersections, and Complements

The Hypergeometric Distribution: An Introduction (fast version)

Calculating Power and the Probability of a Type II Error (A One-Tailed Example)

Standardizing Normally Distributed Random Variables (fast version)

Introduction to the Negative Binomial Distribution

Using the Chi-square Table to Find Areas and Percentiles

The Normal Approximation to the Binomial Distribution