Statistical Tricks and Traps: An Illustrated Guide to the Misuses of Statistics

by Ennis C. Almer, Louie Joseph Cantal

Overview

First Published in 2017. As an applied branch of mathematics, statistical analysis is straightforward and non- controversial. Yet, there are dangers in using statistics that derive from two sources: Statistical Tricks: These occur when researchers deliberately attempt to mislead their readers. Also Statistical Traps: A researcher falls into a statistical trap when he or she naively or carelessly misapplies statistical methods or employs unsound research methods to generate statistical data. While a trap is not intentional, it can produce highly misleading results. However, this book will teach you what types of important questions researchers should address in their reports, and you will learn to take their results with a large grain of salt if they are not addressed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781351968201
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/13/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	58
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Ennis C. Almer (Author) ,  Louie Joseph Cantal (Illustrations)

Table of Contents

Introduction, Part A Statistical Graphs, Part B Percentages, Part C Averages, Part D Variability, Part E Definitions, Part F Assumptions, Part G Association and Causation, Part H Confounding, Part I Sampling, PartJ Measurement, Part K The Big Picture

Editorial Reviews

In Statistical Tricks And Traps: An Illustrated Guide To The Misuse Of Statistics, Ennis Almer shows how to avoid twentyseven major statistical misuses as illustrated when reporters misinterpreting government statistics to arrive at misleading headlines such as "Shocking Increase in Cocain Use"; or expecting all children to perform "at grade level"; or major corporations grossly misleading readers with fullpage ads; or governmental organizations and polling organizations manipulating and misrepresenting numbers born out of surveys. Statistical Tricks And Traps is one of the most "reader friendly" presentations on statistical computations and presentations every publishers and is ideal for the nonspecialist general reader seeking to understand and be prepared for the abuse and misuse of statistics in journalist, corporate, or governmental presentations.