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I'm a fan of Lifehacker.com because I learn new tips/tricks/info daily. Here is one that may be useful to a lot of us who is interpreting data/number daily.
Link Basic Errors to Avoid When Interpreting Survey Statistics
Today isn't just a pretty neat date (20/10/2010); it's also World Statistics Day. While designed to celebrate the collectors of national statistics, it's also a timely chance to remind ourselves of traps we often fall into when looking at survey data.
Everyone loves quoting a statistic, and no wonder: specific numbers always sound more convincing than broad generalisations. However, not all statistics are created equal—the results of a web poll are demonstrably less valid than votes in a national election—-and many of us misquote data for our own ends even when the source is basically reasonable. Here are some simple issues worth bearing in mind whenever you consider statistics. They should be obvious, but they're often ignored.
Link Basic Errors to Avoid When Interpreting Survey Statistics
Today isn't just a pretty neat date (20/10/2010); it's also World Statistics Day. While designed to celebrate the collectors of national statistics, it's also a timely chance to remind ourselves of traps we often fall into when looking at survey data.
Everyone loves quoting a statistic, and no wonder: specific numbers always sound more convincing than broad generalisations. However, not all statistics are created equal—the results of a web poll are demonstrably less valid than votes in a national election—-and many of us misquote data for our own ends even when the source is basically reasonable. Here are some simple issues worth bearing in mind whenever you consider statistics. They should be obvious, but they're often ignored.
