What is an example of a misleading statistic?
In 2007, toothpaste company Colgate ran an ad stating that 80% of dentists recommend their product. Based on the promotion, many shoppers assumed Colgate was the best choice for their dental health. But this wasn’t necessarily true. In reality, this is a famous example of misleading statistics.
Why is average misleading?
Averages are misleading when used to compare different groups, apply group behavior to an individual scenario, or when there are numerous outliers in the data. The root causes of these problems appear to be over-simplification and rationalizations — what people want to believe.
What is an example where the mean can be misleading?
The mean does not show the spread of results For example, if you want to look at the height of the students in a class, the average height is the same in classes A, B and C below but the heights of the individual students are very different. This can also be the case when looking at treatment effects.
Why average is not a good measure?
The mean is not a good measurement of central tendency because it takes into account every data point. If you have outliers like in a skewed distribution, then those outliers affect the mean one single outlier can drag the mean down or up.
What are some misuses in statistics?
3.6 Misreporting or misunderstanding of estimated error. 3.7 False causality. 3.8 Proof of the null hypothesis. 3.9 Confusing statistical significance with practical significance. 3.10 Data dredging.
What are detached statistics?
Detached statistics means stating a statistical measurement but not giving any basis for comparison. Example: Mean is the average of numbers added up and divided by how many numbers are in the set.
Why average of averages is wrong?
It is only true if all of the averages are computed over sets having the same cardinality, otherwise it is false. In fancy terms, the average is not distributive though it is algebraic. This phenomenon has a name: the fact that the average of averages is not the average is an instance of Simpson’s Paradox.
How can numbers be misleading?
The data can be misleading due to the sampling method used to obtain data. For instance, the size and the type of sample used in any statistics play a significant role — many polls and questionnaires target certain audiences that provide specific answers, resulting in small and biased sample sizes.
How statistics can be misleading?
What is the problem with averages?
And that is the basic problem with averages: they can hide what you need to know. Averages hide variation. Averages are simple to calculate and are sometimes a lazy way of determining past performance. For example, over some period of time a performance level may have started at 50% and ended up at 70%.
How often are statistics wrong?
By gboustead on August 5, 2010. Numbers don’t lie, but they tell a lot of half-truths. We have been raised to think that numbers represent absolute fact, that in a math class there is one and only one correct answer.
What are some examples of a misleading graph?
Global Warming out of Control! Average monthly temperature in New Haven,CT. What’s wrong with this picture?
How might the graph be considered misleading?
In statistics, a misleading graph, also known as a distorted graph, is a graph that misrepresents data, constituting a misuse of statistics and with the result that an incorrect conclusion may be derived from it. Graphs may be misleading through being excessively complex or poorly constructed.
Why might the graph be considered misleading?
Graphs may be misleading through being excessively complex or poorly constructed . Even when constructed to accurately display the characteristics of their data, graphs can be subject to different interpretation, or unintended kind of data can seemingly and ultimately erroneously be derived. Misleading graphs may be created intentionally to hinder the proper interpretation of data or accidentally due to unfamiliarity with graphing software, misinterpretation of data, or because data
What makes this graph misleading?
Misleading graphs may be created intentionally to hinder the proper interpretation of data or accidentally due to unfamiliarity with graphing software, misinterpretation of data, or because data cannot be accurately conveyed.