Can numbers be misleading?

Can numbers be misleading?

So much so that people and organizations based some of their most important decision on statistics. People say numbers do not lie, that might be true. However, sometimes, statistics can be misleading, and the same kind of data can show the opposite trend depending on how it is used.

What does it mean by numbers don’t lie?

At first glance, it means people intentionally use numbers to misinform other people. In my opinion, I think he was implying that people have a tendency to misuse numbers unintentionally. Data abounds.

Do numbers lie?

The truth is that numbers can and do lie to us every day. This is especially important to keep in mind as the hype around Big Data and Analytics reaches a fever pitch. As a reminder to all of us who use data in work and life to make decisions, I’ve put together some examples of how numbers can often lie or mislead.

Why can Averages be misleading?

But averages can be misleading when a distribution is heavily skewed at one end, with a small number of unrepresentative outliers pulling the average in their direction. Outliers can also pull an average down, leading social scientists to overstate the risks of particular events.

How might averages be misinterpreted?

Averages are misleading when used to compare different groups, apply group behavior to an individual scenario, or when there are numerous outliers in the data. The root causes of these problems appear to be over-simplification and rationalizations — what people want to believe.

Who said numbers never lie?

For 95 years, people have attibuted this quote to Mark Twain. But its real history predates Twain…and it couldn’t be more true today than it was in 1854 in its original and anonymous form… “Figures won’t lie: but men that draw up the tables may.”

Why stats are misleading?

“My Stats don’t lie”, said the Statistician Next door; well maybe yes, but Alice can use those cool charts, curvy numbers to cook up a lie!, not in Wonderland, but in reality!

Why statistics are not accurate?

The studies are often not repeatable and usually not predictive. The reason for this is that people and what they say or do are the bases of t he statistics. It seems axiomatic that people will perversely refuse to say or do the same thing twice running, or let anyone predict what they will do.