ABUSING STATISTICS FOR POLITICS AND PROFIT

Beware of these abusive techniques.

There are many statistical functions that may be used to compare values. Unfortunately, there are more ways to use them wrong than to use them right. There are 4 ways to abuse statistics:

  1. Bad data collection
  2. Bad application of statistical functions
  3. Forming the wrong conclusion
  4. Sneaky tricks to mislead the unwary

Here is a list of the wrong things to do in statistics, with some horrific examples of how politicians and "scientists" have used them to mislead people. The list is sorted according to the four categories above:

Bad data collection

Bad application of statistical functions

Forming the wrong conclusion

Sneaky tricks to mislead the unwary

One has to be very wary when reading and interpreting the claims made by others. Many have axes to grind, and they want to use you for a whetstone.

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