Northumbria- Town in England

2008-200939% of all crimes solved

86.7 % of victims of crime are

“ ‘Satisfied’ with overall service

of police”

“I have statistics to prove it”

Common support of argument

What can statistics prove?

Are statistics deceptive?

Deceptive= 속이는

Unknowable Statistics

One way to make money fast is to become a professional golfer. The average pro golfer made almost $880,000 in tournaments in 2004.

What is the best way to make money quickly?

Tim= 2,000,000Fred= 1,690,000Bob= 560,000Mike= 100,000Larry= 50,000

3- Averages

Mean= [A+B+C+D+E+F+G]/ 7 or Sum of values divided by number of values

Median= A+B+C+D+E+F+G or Middle value

Mode= A+A+B+C+D+E+E+E+E+E+E+E or Most common

Range= Gap between smallest & largest values

Distribution= How frequently each distribution occurs

Average lottery winner won $112,285$ 1,000,000 $10,000,$500$50$10$5$1 $1$1

Proves one thing, Concludes something different

Bio Lean is effective in helpingpeople lose weight. Only 6 out 100people reported any side effects.

“Since 94% of people havepositive results, our pill is one

of the most effective pills on the market.”

Almost half of all Americans cheat on their significant other. A researcher interviewed people at a shopping mall. Of the 75 respondents, 36 admitted to having cheated on someone they “were seeing”

Researcher asked college students:“Have you ever had a night of binge drinking?”83% said “yes”

“The results demonstrate that universities are overly stressingstudents, causing them to do dangerous behaviors to escape thepressure”

Tips: 1. Before reading statistics, ask, “What info is necessary?” 2. Pay attention to words in stat/con. 3. Don’t read conclusion.

Omit Absolute Number

“Large businesses are destroying the small town feel of ourdowntown area. Just last year, the number of largebusinesses increased by 75%”

4 to 7 12 to 21

Omit Percentages

Despite common fears, skydiving is much safer than other activities, such as driving a car. In one particular month in Los Angeles, 176 people died in car accidents while 3 died in skydiving accidents.

Ask: What information is missing?

What information is missing?

SUVs are dangerous and should not be allowed on the road. In 2009, SUVs were responsible for 4,666 deaths.

How many deaths would have been prevented if car?How many vehicle accidents not involving SUV?# of SUVs compared to other vehicles?

Compared to what?

Risk Statistics

Situation: 65 year old woman had a stroke. She is discussing treatment options with doctor.

Treatment X will reduce the likelihood of a future stroke by 33%. Treatment Y will reduce the risk by 3% With treatment Z, 94% of women are free of second stroke for 10 years, compared to 91% who go untreated.

Weight Loss Products

Try to identify how statistics are misused in the

following commercial.

Magic Ball

Nearly every advertisement contains an argument.

As you watch the magic ball product promotion, see if you can recognize1. Reasons2. Intermediate Conclusion

3. Conclusion

Reason 1

There is a special mist that creates clean air.

Reason 2

It capsulizes virus.

Intermediate Conclusion

Clean air + No virus= Better Life

Reason 3

There are two sizes to choose from.

Reason 4 (& Reason 5)

8 Colors & 17 Aromas

Assumptions

My wife and I were looking for a hooded towel for Ella.

On my computer, I found the towel below.

At the same time, my wife found an organic towel that was more than twice as expensive.

Which one do you think I bought? Which one would you have bought? Why?