statistics have to be correctly interpreted if they are to be of value . they are often the result of prolonged and painstaking scientific research and can provide really valuable information about population density , conditions in industry , the weather , road accident ..etc and countless aspects in our life . ............comment plz
2007-05-09 10:18:34 · 6 answers · asked by Away beyond Horizon 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
As Mark Twain said, "There are lies, there are damn lies, and there are statistics."
Yes you can prove anything with statistics. And you are absolutely right when you say that the have to be correctly interpreted if they are to be of value. The problem is that most people are not trained in the interpretation of statistics so they tend to believe what is placed before them without realizing that statistics can be made to say anything.
For example, an advertisement might say that 9 out of 10 people get relief using a certain pain medication. What they aren't saying is who are the people that got relief? Did they have a toothache, headache, or a chronic disease? Was their relief total or partial? Was it long term or short term? Were there any side effects? The answers to those questions would add or take away credence from the statistic.
2007-05-09 10:32:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Statistics are about probability never about proof. But sometimes 'a good guess' is accepted as proof.
Just this statement: "Statistically a family has 2.4children." Though in itself true...how many families do you know where they have 2.4 children?
Some may say.. "you are twisting the data." And I would respond....that's what statistics is all about. With the same research you can prove 3 or 4 opposed 'truths'.
So (contradicting myself) you CAN 'prove' anything with statistics.
2007-05-09 10:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by Puppy Zwolle 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Statistics are numbers; they have no meaning except as interpreted, and are at most ammunition in an effort to persuade. Ethically used, they can be strong evidence to an interpretation or can refute one. Inethical use gave us the saying "lies, damn lies, and statistics." Below is a fun link regarding that saying... which did not originate with the marvelous Mark Twain.
2007-05-09 10:33:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What "you can prove anything with statistics" means is that it is easy to fool people who don't understand statistics, which is most people. It's not really proven, it just looks like it.
2007-05-09 10:26:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
on the contrary, statistics, used cleverly, can prove nearly anything! It all depends on what study you do and cherry-pick your results to analyse to prove a point.
2016-03-19 02:23:37 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
93% of statistics are false.
2007-05-09 10:26:44 · answer #6 · answered by rewqfdsavxczrewqfdsavxcz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋