Statistics can Lie
By rosdimy
@rosdimy (3926)
Malaysia
December 13, 2008 9:42pm CST
This statement was said by my Maths lecturer on the first day of statistics lesson. He did not elaborate much but it was sufficient to get my mind thinking about it. Basically it is the way how statistics is used to interpret things.
I have seen how statistics has been used to manipulate the minds of the general population. Let us take my country as an example. Certain people have claimed there is a concerted ethnic cleansing being carried out by the present leaders. The claim is made based on statistical figures stating that the percentage of certain groups has decreased since independence. The fact is couples of these ethnic groups prefer having a few children compared to the main ethnic group.
Have you noticed how statistics has been misused by many leaders? Have you been misled before? What do you think of people purposely using statistics to mislead other people?
all the best
1 response
@jordan04n (463)
• United States
15 Dec 08
The question I ask to any type of survey or poll or anything that uses a collection process is ...Who is collecting the statistics and who are they using as subjects or where are the statistics coming from? Almost anyone can manipulate the end results by the way these two variables are chosen. I always want to know who or how those certain people or groups are made up of. I have been misled and realize I can't believe much of what I hear or read til farther investigation takes place. I ask lots of questions and do research by reading what I can find available on the subject. I hate to see anyone or any country being misled on purpose for the gain of others in that country or beyond. Protecting ourselves is only part of living and abiding in a society that could cause us harm now or in the future.
