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What does the quote there are lies damned lies and then there's statistics mean?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
The quote has been attributed to Mark Twain and also to Benjamin Disraeli; I'll have to check references... What it means in a nutshell is that statistics can be used to manipulate the truth in any way the person crunching the numbers sees fit...the damnable part of it is that on the surface, the "fact" will appear to be truthful "based on the statistics"...other related quotes, or more appropriately, colloquialisms, are "the numbers don't quite add up", "statistically speaking, that may be true", and my favorite political rejoinder, "the statistics clearly show...". statistics show NOTHING except what the person crunching the numbers WANTS them to show. Period. Now all the legitimate, ethicalscientists and statisticians may flame me.... RH
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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Who said there are lies damned lies and statistics?
Mark Twain
What is meant by distrust of statistics?
It is a general belief that "statistics can prove anything." This statement is partly true and false. It is false because mere statistics should not be taken for granted without proper verification. It is true because statistics is often used by unscrupulous people to achieve their personal ends. This results in loss of faith or confidence on statistics or in causing distrust of statistics. Distrust of statistics literally means lack of trust in statistical data, statistical analysis and the conclusions derived from it. We often hear statements like. (i). Statistics is an unreliable science (ii). Statistics are lies of the first order. (iii). There are three type of lies-lies, damned lies and statistics. (iv). Figures do not lie, liars figure. These are expressions of distrust in statistics. These views of statistics stem from the misuse of statistics by the interested parties.Publicity, advertisers of various products, Governments and other organizations are trying to promote their sectional interest using statistics and statistical methods. This causes distrust of statistics. Some of the important reasons of distrust in statistics are the following: (a) Facts based on figures are more convincing. But these figures can be manipulated according to one's wishes. This misguides public causing distrust in statistics. (b) Sometimes statistical analyses are misinterpreted causing distrust in statistics. Supposing the mortality rates of patients are more in Indian hospitals. From this one may wrongly conclude that it is safer to treat the patients at home. This type of misinterpretation also causes distrust in statistics. Statistics are useful tools. One uses them according to his knowledge and experience. Use of statistics makes a statement more convincing. But its misuse causes distrust. So it is necessary that people should be adequately prepared to know the reality or to shift the truth from untruth, good statistics from bad statistics. WI. King has rightly observed "statistics are like clay of which you can make a 'God' or a 'Devil' as you please."
What is the purpose of finding the average of your data?
The basic function of an average is so that you have just one value to represent your entire data with. You don't have to say that your data range lies within this boundaries - you just have to quote the average and standard deviation and that more or less, gives significant information about your data.
How do inferential statistics describe data differently than descriptive statistics?
The term "descriptive statistics" generally refers to such information as the mean (average), median (midpoint), mode (most frequently occurring value), standard deviation, highest value, lowest value, range, and etc. of a given data set. It is a loosely used term, and not always meant to contrast with inferential statistics as the question implies. But in the context of the question, descriptive statistics would be information that pertains only to the data that has actually been collected. In the case of an instructor calculating an average grade for a class, for example, the collected data would most likely be the only point of interest. Thus, descriptive statistics would be enough. However, it is more common for a researcher to use a sample of collected data to make inferences and draw conclusions about a larger group (or "population") that the sample represents. For example, if you wanted to know the average age of users of this site, it would be unrealistic to question every singe user. So you might question a small sample and then extend that information to all users. But if you found the average age in your sample to be 40, you could not immediately assume that 40 is the average for all users. You would need to use inferential statistics to calculate an estimate of how accurately your data represents the larger group. The most common way to do this is to calculate a standard error, which will produce a range within which the population average most likely (but not definitively) lies. Therefore, in the simplest description (inferential statistics are also a part of much more powerful tests outside of this answer), descriptive statistics refer only to a sample while inferential statistics refer to the larger population from which the sample was drawn.
What is the Test for normal distribution?
Normal Distribution is a key to Statistics. It is a limiting case of Binomial and Poisson distribution also. Central limit theorem converts random variable to normal random variable. Also central limit theorem tells us whether data items from a sample space lies in an interval at 1%, 5%, 10% siginificane level.
Who said there are lies damned lies and statistics?
Mark Twain
Who said this There are lies blatant lines and statistics?
Answer The actual quote is "There are three kinds of lies, lies, damned lies and statistics." It is usually attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1874 to 1880. The American writer, Mark Twain, quoted it, as attributed to Disraeli, in his autobiography.
What has the author Erin Weir written?
Erin Weir has written: 'Lies, damned lies, and trade statistics' -- subject(s): Foreign economic relations, Exports, Statistics, Economic integration
Why statistics economics sociology psychology is important in business?
Ststistics? In General? Well there is no such thing as statistics in general because the general is a position in the military.
What is the definition of deceptive statistics?
Lies or damned lies! These would be statistics which are faulty or presented in a misleading way (deliberately or accidentally). Such statistics could arise in a number of ways:the experimental model was flawed,there were errors in measurement or recording,the sample was biased,correlation was interpreted as causation,poor graph design - scales, pictograms using improper dimensions,
What does Statistics mean in a persuasive letter?
Statistics can be used to support a course of action showing, say, how previous cases of something you are proposing was successful. However, reliance on statistics can backfire as many people will recall the saying that '... there are lies, damned lies and statistics' implying that one can 'prove anything with numbers'. So, the use of statistics to contributes to a case should, perhaps, be used as supporting evidence and qualified so as to ensure its 'fit' with the case in hand and not the primary evidence Beano GB
When statistical results are misleading?
The world is littered with statistics, and the average person is bombarded with five statistics a day1. Statistics can be misleading and sometimes deliberately distorting. There are three kinds of commonly recognised untruths: "Lies, damn lies and statistics." - Mark Twain
What is meant by distrust of statistics?
It is a general belief that "statistics can prove anything." This statement is partly true and false. It is false because mere statistics should not be taken for granted without proper verification. It is true because statistics is often used by unscrupulous people to achieve their personal ends. This results in loss of faith or confidence on statistics or in causing distrust of statistics. Distrust of statistics literally means lack of trust in statistical data, statistical analysis and the conclusions derived from it. We often hear statements like. (i). Statistics is an unreliable science (ii). Statistics are lies of the first order. (iii). There are three type of lies-lies, damned lies and statistics. (iv). Figures do not lie, liars figure. These are expressions of distrust in statistics. These views of statistics stem from the misuse of statistics by the interested parties.Publicity, advertisers of various products, Governments and other organizations are trying to promote their sectional interest using statistics and statistical methods. This causes distrust of statistics. Some of the important reasons of distrust in statistics are the following: (a) Facts based on figures are more convincing. But these figures can be manipulated according to one's wishes. This misguides public causing distrust in statistics. (b) Sometimes statistical analyses are misinterpreted causing distrust in statistics. Supposing the mortality rates of patients are more in Indian hospitals. From this one may wrongly conclude that it is safer to treat the patients at home. This type of misinterpretation also causes distrust in statistics. Statistics are useful tools. One uses them according to his knowledge and experience. Use of statistics makes a statement more convincing. But its misuse causes distrust. So it is necessary that people should be adequately prepared to know the reality or to shift the truth from untruth, good statistics from bad statistics. WI. King has rightly observed "statistics are like clay of which you can make a 'God' or a 'Devil' as you please."
What has the author Matthew B Robinson written?
Matthew B. Robinson has written: 'Justice Blind? Ideals and Realities of American Criminal Justice' 'Lies, Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics' -- subject(s): Statistics, Drug control, Drug abuse, United States, Government policy, United States. Office of National Drug Control Policy 'Why crime?' -- subject(s): Criminology, Antisocial personality disorders, Criminal behavior, Criminal psychology, Deviant behavior, System theory
Did Albert Einstein quote amidst turmoil lies opportunity?
Sort of... "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
What is a weakness to giving statistics in a speech?
To quote my statistics professor "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics." I often find this true. Statistical data can often be completely true, but gathered in a way that is deceptive. They can say that 100% percent of all men interviewed were wearing white shirts. However, they can skew the data by only interviewing men that were already wearing white shirts, and ignoring all of those in red. It would be true that all the men they interviewed were wearing white, but deceptive because they intentionally made the data fit what they wanted it to be. The example is overly simplified, but skewing data for statistics is not that uncommon of a practice.
Do politician use information overload to confuse voters and make themselves appear as the savors?
There are only three types of lies. True lies. White lies and Statistics.
