Statistics

As a population, we are bombarded with percentages and statistics, but how does one know if what we are being told is correct? The book How to Lie With Statistics by Darrel Huff was written to help readers better understand statistics especially when they are presented to us in ways that can be misleading or misunderstood. The book is not meant as a guide on how to change or manipulate statistical numbers. However, if statistics are not presented properly or perhaps purposely misleading people, this book will help readers question or form their own opinions from data. Most people simply are not that interested when you hear the word statistics and many times people do not believe the numbers presented. This mistrust occurs most often for two reasons: the person not being able to see the raw data and where or how it was collected and the person not being able to verify the credibility of the information presented. Throughout the book, Huff discusses different statistical techniques that can be used improperly and how one can discern good statistics from those that may have been manipulated.

Huff starts out by talking about the sample with a built-in bias. Data collected at the beginning of the study that is used to create statistics originates from someone or something. One of the problems with the data is someone may not answer the question honestly; therefore you do not get a truly unbiased response. The other way built in bias is noted occurs when the sample picker does not truly randomly select the people, or subjects and this introduces bias in the sample as well. One must be aware of how subjects are chosen and randomized.

On another topic of statistics, Huff writes about the well-chosen average. The average that one ...

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...th with data displayed in graphs and tables. A percentage presented now will be under my scrutiny because not all data and research presented are the same quality. I am amazed how the presenter can direct the reader to prove their point, a person has to realize that surveys can cost a large amount of money and the person that is sponsoring the survey wants to have results point in their favor. The group that is creating the statistics is under a great deal of pressure as well in order to attain the outcome that sponsor of the survey wants. It is obvious to me that the reader needs to educate themselves so they can understand statistics and formulate their own opinion using solid statistical methods. The next time I see a percentage or a statistic presented, I will keep in mind that more information may be needed in order to determine if the number is creditable.