Stupid statistics

Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:23 pm » by **Tertiusgaudens**

"68 % say no to this..."

"Most of young people are..."

"3 of 4 women have..."

"A majority believes..."

"This is only a minority..."

These are lines in the paper or from tv we all know.

They influence people with no or little knowledge.

For all this is no real but stupid statistics.

Real statistics needs at least 2000 people to make valid general statements.

In statistics there is a number n important telling the number of people or things which are explored.

Statistics tells that a basic n is needed allowing so called extrapolation - as I said, you need 2000 different people getting a general statement.

But in all papers, news and dickhead pamphlets there is never revealed a n.

Suppose the news say "most have elected this party...". They tell you not how many cases were in the survey. Lets say they only had a survey of 120 cases. This would mean the statament of the survey is really wrong and false.

So keep attention on n, every time. And keep attention on n > 2000 when facing general statements...

Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:27 pm » by **Phaeton**

Statisticly statistics are highly inaccurate.

Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:28 pm » by **Tertiusgaudens**

Not in general...

Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:22 pm » by **Phaeton**

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/57091/title/Odds_Are,_Its_Wrong