Misleading statistics

That’s so funny and so true SW.
My 10 year old GD was learning that with me during lockdown and was surprised by the different answers.

Tim Harford, the presenter of More or Less has also written some useful books including "How to Make the World Add Up" which js jusg abojt tk be issued as a paperback and is also available as an audio book.

PippaZ

I love More or Less. It could be very dry but it's very well presented.

Yes it’s brilliant and I think you can get past episodes going back forever on BBC Sounds .

I love More or Less. It could be very dry but it's very well presented.

A simple example of how data can be deliberately or carelessly presented is deciding whether to use the mean, the median or the mode when describing the ‘average’ or ‘typical’. And sometimes, rather than try and do that, it would be more illuminating to show the variation, the range of differences. So even at this basic level of descriptive statistics, there’s much scope for manipulation to prove the point you want to make.

Anyone who wants to improve their understanding of Statistics should look out for Sir David John Spiegelhalter. He did a session at last year's Hay Festival and is excellent. He's published several books that are accessible and informative and is often on the radio. More or Less on Radio 4 is also worth a listen.

I’m not sure if others were taught about statistics I certainly was at GCSE level, including the way they could be interpreted

I see what you mean Mollygo, thank you.

That’s OK Alegrias. As I said in a previous post, the presentation of statistics reflects the purpose for which they presented. Group A post carefully researched ‘accurate’ statistics. Group B post carefully researched ‘accurate’ statistics and neither group accept the other group’s ‘accurate’ statistics are accurate if they don’t match what they want.
In statistics, we were taught to collect and analyse and interpret numerical data.
Collect and analyse is straightforward. Making inferences from the data and interpreting it is not so straightforward.

Over excitement!

On several occasions I've had to explain to colleagues in reasonably senior positions at work that the average of sums isn't the same as the sum of averages.....

"That's exactly" Sorry ran away with myself while typing

Yes.That's exactly right Alegrias1. It's a problem you come up against time and again when teaching.

I wonder as well if people have unrealistic expectations of statistics? Mollygo's comment about statistics so far being inaccurate, for instance, what could that mean? (Not getting at you Mollygo, just using you as an example )

I agree GrannyRose15 about teaching maths. It's still seems acceptable for people to say that they're not very good at maths when they mean they can't be bothered with mental arithmetic. But you'd never hear anyone saying "oh, this reading business is a bit beyond me, actually...."

Smileless2012

It's always been recognised that statistics can be very misleading.

No - statistics by themselves are not misleading - it’s how they are used

I have often thought that if we taught maths properly in this country it would be far harder for anyone to lie to us.

I think that the government statisticians do preliminary samples and are aware of the fact that a small minority of those who complete the census form may lie.

It’s a clever form. If you put your DoB in, the next page tell you how old you are.
Unless everyone is strictly truthful - (Jedi knights?) the statistics produced based on this census, no matter who interprets them , or how, will be no more accurate than some of the statistics presented so far.

I hope that all the GNetters who decry or dismiss or abuse the need for our country to have accurate statistics have not forgotten to complete their census return today

census.gov.uk/

PippaZ

TwiceAsNice

There are Lies
Damned Lies
And Statistics !

I have said it before TwiceAsNice, that is just not clever any more if it ever was.

There are liars
Damned liars
And those who misuse statistics.

Statistics cannot do anything without humans interpreting them.

This absolutely. It actually suits those who misuse statistics to keep us not believing statistics. The greatest gift to any politician is an uneducated electorate.

varian

The Government Statistical service publishes advice for journalists, businesses and other organisations to present figures in a more understandable way, but I wonder how many take the trouble to read it and try to put it into practice?

gss.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/tips-for-communicating-the-impact-of-coronavirus-covid-19/

There's also the Office for Statistical Regulation and other bodies that criticise politicians when they misuse statistics but as the misuse is invariably deliberate and for political ends, it makes not the slightest difference.

TwiceAsNice

There are Lies
Damned Lies
And Statistics !

I have said it before TwiceAsNice, that is just not clever any more if it ever was.

There are liars
Damned liars
And those who misuse statistics.

Statistics cannot do anything without humans interpreting them.

Statistical knowledge helps you use the proper methods to collect the data, employ the correct analyses, and effectively present the results. Statistics allows you to understand a subject much more deeply *

We need to teach the critical thinking required as we won't stop needing data to make decisions and prove or disprove theories.

*The Importance of Statistics

There are Lies
Damned Lies
And Statistics !

One of my favourite pieces of data analysis from 30 odd years ago is:
People in Brighton have the least fillings dentist's report.
But taking into account the demographics of the area then; an aging population in a time when most elderly people had full sets of false teeth! ?

The Government Statistical service publishes advice for journalists, businesses and other organisations to present figures in a more understandable way, but I wonder how many take the trouble to read it and try to put it into practice?

gss.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/tips-for-communicating-the-impact-of-coronavirus-covid-19/