How can you lie is statistics?

Question

I mean how can you lie with stats?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Lie_...

Read the book, click on links within the page.....

It is very easy to misrepresent data.  That is why there are ethical codes in professions.....and review committees before research is published.

Answer 2

yes-because if you know how--stats can be manipulated

Answer 3

all i know is: stats was the hardest class i have EVER taken in college and i failed it and have to take it AGAIN.

Answer 4

it's very easy to do, I'll show you how:

assume that population sizes and other factors have been controlled for to yield statistically relevent results.

the following question is asked:

Do you believe that smokers should be allowed to smoke anywhere?

yes

no

unsure

assume that the following percentages were what the pollers tallied up:

yes- 33%

no- 33%

unsure- 33%

so you could say that "only 33% believed that smokers should be allowed to smoke anywhere." or that "only 33% of believed that smokers shouldn't be allowed to smoke anywhere." depending on what you wanted to spin it as, and be telling the truth.

that's why, when looking at statistics, it's not only important to view sample size and look for other possible confounding factors, but also very important to look at the entire list of results.