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How statistics can be misleading - Mark Liddell

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Let’s Begin…

Statistics are persuasive. So much so that people, organizations, and whole countries base some of their most important decisions on organized data. But any set of statistics might have something lurking inside it that can turn the results completely upside down. Mark Liddell investigates Simpson’s paradox.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Mark Liddell
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Director Mike Foster, Tom Sanders
  • Producer Tom Sanders
  • Compositor Mike Foster, Tom Sanders
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by TED-Ed

Why do we bother with statistics? Which tools do we need to order to analyze statistics?

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Avatar for Ly Vũ Bảo
Lesson completed

Statistics provide accurate information which helps people make a decision. By analyzing data, human can make prediction and strategies to develop in various fields such as, business, education, healthcare. We have a variety of statistical software to analyze statistics. Microsoft Excel is the common software which can be downloaded easily on all technological devices. Excel has built-in functions and add-ins for more advanced statistical analysis.


Avatar for Nicole  Allen
Lesson completed

Statistical data provides information on various topics to improve policies and procedures. It also is utilized to show what works and what does not work in data. Tools to use when analyzing statistics include analyzing overall data, be aware of lurking variables.


Avatar for Tammy Lane
Lesson completed

Statistics is a way for data to be expressed, however statistics can be manipulated and used to deceive others. There can also be bias with statistics and if some data is not included in the statistical analysis then the statistic is not accurate. Correlation and standard deviation are some of the tools used in statistical analysis.


Avatar for Jack Zhang
Lesson completed

Statistics is an amazing tool which helps people display data in a very clear way. However, statistics could be misleading and could also be used to deceive, or even to manipulate others. That is NOT what we want to see.


Avatar for Bonnie Lyons
Lesson completed

Statistics allow people to understand data with more factual reasoning. This helps information come across more clearly however, we need to make sure that by using these statistics we are still protecting everyone’s privacy and safety.


Avatar for sara shaw
Lesson completed

Statistics allow people to collect data and display results in a clear, concise format. However, some statistics can vary and be incorrect which is when we have to analyze and identify what data looks accurate and what data looks inaccurate.


Avatar for Laia Reid Jimenez
Lesson completed

Statistics allow people to be able to obtain an idea of how something is run or controlled. It is crucial in the establishment of a just society. Although, we need to be able to accurately analyse data otherwise it could become dangerous and be used in a negative way. Therefore, we need to be able to compare data and to be able to find how this data was obtained to ensure its accuracy.


Avatar for victoria rivera
Lesson completed

Statistics are crucial for making important or even everyday choices. However they have the potential to mislead or confuse you, this is why large amounts of data have to be collected over an over again in order to achieve a better, more fair result. By collecting large amounts of data we can spot the lurking variables or outliers and get more accurate results.


Avatar for Denise Collins
Lesson in progress

Studying statistics is beneficial, not just for its applications in science, but also for more personal reasons. In an effort to provide greater credence to an argument or piece of advise, statistics are frequently presented. Simply paying attention to commercials on television will demonstrate this for you. A good deal of the figures that have been thrown around in this manner are not the product of thorough statistical study. They have the potential to mislead you and coerce you into making choices that you could later come to regret. In light of these considerations, gaining an understanding of statistics is a significant step in regaining control of your life.


Avatar for Camille McAllister
Lesson completed

Statistics aid in helping people make choices. However they can be manipulated.

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