The Leonard Lopate Show: How to Spot Dubious Data

How to Spot Dubious Data

Thanks to the internet and a 24-hour news cycle, we’re constantly being bombarded with facts. Find out why some of those numbers and statistics can be very misleading, and learn how to identify dubious data. Joel Best is author of Stat-Spotting.

Guests:

Joel Best

Comments [2]

Sue D. from New York City

30% is not the "reciprocal" of 70% (might be the "complement"). A "median" is not an "average"; (it is simply the "middle" value). A "mean" is an average, but which "mean" do you mean (the usual "arithmetic", or "geometric",etc.)?

This speaker demonstrates how sociologists claim to be experts on everything, but actually know very little; in this case, he knows not much math, yet repeatedly writes about numbers.

Dec. 31 2008 10:41 AM

Score: 0/0

Jeffrey Slott from East Elmhurst

My observation is that statistics can mean one thing or the other if the word "only" is or isn't used. "10% of blah-blah-blah causes this!" You get all nervous. "Only 10% of blah-blah-blah causes this!" You sigh with relief.

Dec. 30 2008 12:42 PM

Score: 0/0

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