answersLogoWhite

0

It is a general belief that "statistics can prove anything." This statement is partly true and false. It is false because mere statistics should not be taken for granted without proper verification. It is true because statistics is often used by unscrupulous people to achieve their personal ends. This results in loss of faith or confidence on statistics or in causing distrust of statistics.

Distrust of statistics literally means lack of trust in statistical data, statistical analysis and the conclusions derived from it. We often hear statements like.

(i). Statistics is an unreliable science

(ii). Statistics are lies of the first order.

(iii). There are three type of lies-lies, damned lies and statistics.

(iv). Figures do not lie, liars figure.

These are expressions of distrust in statistics. These views of statistics stem from the misuse of statistics by the interested parties.Publicity, advertisers of various products, Governments and other organizations are trying to promote their sectional interest using statistics and statistical methods. This causes distrust of statistics.

Some of the important reasons of distrust in statistics are the following:

(a) Facts based on figures are more convincing. But these figures can be manipulated according to one's wishes. This misguides public causing distrust in statistics.

(b) Sometimes statistical analyses are misinterpreted causing distrust in statistics. Supposing the mortality rates of patients are more in Indian hospitals. From this one may wrongly conclude that it is safer to treat the patients at home. This type of misinterpretation also causes distrust in statistics.

Statistics are useful tools. One uses them according to his knowledge and experience. Use of statistics makes a statement more convincing. But its misuse causes distrust. So it is necessary that people should be adequately prepared to know the reality or to shift the truth from untruth, good statistics from bad statistics. WI. King has rightly observed "statistics are like clay of which you can make a 'God' or a 'Devil' as you please."

User Avatar

Wiki User

∙ 15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What is meant by statistics and their general concepts?

=== === === === === === === === === ===


What is meant by statistics?

satistics is knothing but, sampling character is called as statistics By P.Sugapriya paranjothi


In the tragedy of Julius Caesar act i scene ii which images are meant to convey a sense of suspicion and distrust?

iuh


Compare and contrast descriptive statistics and inferential statistics?

Descriptive statistics are meant to describe the situation such as the average or the range. Inferential statistics is used to differentiate between a couple of groups.


Explain what is meant by Terms of Trade and why it is an important economic statistics?

yes


What is meant by online statistics course?

An online statistics course is a course in statistics that is taught online via a college message board and assignments or pre-recorded video lecture.


What is meant by business statistics explain in details?

Business statistics are quantitative measures that help managers make better decisions. Managers use statistics to make decisions about products and employees.


When was And Distrust It created?

And Distrust It was created in 1995.


How do you spell distrust?

You spelled it correctly: distrust.


The definition of education statistics?

Educational Statistics is defined as the study of the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data specifically meant for the education sector.


Can you give me a sentence with a the word distrust?

I distrust the government.


When was A Healthy Distrust created?

A Healthy Distrust was created in 2004.

Trending Questions
What is formed when two lines meet? Does coffee affect the accuracy of an STD blood test? What is 2.525 rounded to the nearest thousandth? How do you find the missing number if you have the mean? Where can one purchase a rolling tote bag? Average weight for a 5'2 girl? How many peanut M and Ms fit in an inch? A bag contains six blue marbles seven red marbles and four green marbles If four marbles are drawn randomly determine the probability that three are green? How would you compare theoretical probability and experimental probability for getting three heads to the theoretical probability. would you expect the probabilities to be equal .? What are the chances of a women getting pregnant the first time? Likelyhood of getting pregnant using no contraceptive? 1The odds in favor of A solving mathematical problem are 3 to 4 and the odds against B solving the problems are 5 to 7 Find the probability that the problem will be solved by at least one of them? The standard error of the mean is the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of the sample mean? Which graph shows the most likely growth of a squirrel population living in a forest? A deck of ordinary cards is shuffled and 13 cards are dealt. What is the probability that the last card dealt is an ace? What is the difference between axis label and a label in a bar graph? What is the area underneath curve for chi-square distribution? What is 3 over 8 written as a percent? Does a short cycle mean you didn't ovulate? Does starkly mean similar or different?