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Revision as of 18:00, 13 May 2010
General Advance-Placement (AP) Statistics Curriculum - Uses and Abuses of Statistics
Contents
Uses and Abuses of Statistics
Statistics is the science of variation, randomness and chance. As such, statistics is different from the Newtonian sciences, where the processes being studied obey exact deterministic mathematical laws and typically can be described as systems. Because statistics provides tools for data understanding where no other science can, one should be prepared to trade this new power of knowledge with uncertainty. In general, statistical analysis, inference and simulation will not provide deterministic answers and strict (e.g., yes/no, presence/absence) responses to questions involving stochastic processes. Rather, statistics will provide quantitative inference represented as long-time probability values, confidence or prediction intervals, odds, chances, etc., which may ultimately be subjected to varying interpretations.
This possibility of multiple interpretations may be viewed by some as detrimental or inconsistent. But others consider these outcomes as beautiful, scientific and elegant responses to challenging problems that are inherently stochastic. The phrase Uses and Abuses of Statistics refers to this notion that in some cases statistical results may be used as evidence to seemingly opposite theses. However, most of the time, common principles of logic allow us to disambiguate the obtained statistical inference. Some appropriate probability and statistics quotes are provided in the references section.
Approach
When presented with a problem, data and statistical inference about a phenomenon, one needs to critically assess the validity of the assumptions, accuracy of the models and correctness of the interpretation of the thesis. There are many so called paradoxes, where one can easily be convinced of an erroneous conclusion, because the underlying principles are violated (e.g., Simpson's paradox, the Birthday paradox, etc.). Critical evaluation of the design of the experiment, data collection, measurements and validity of the analysis strategy should lead to correct inference and interpretation in most cases.
In summary, one must:
- be presented with a problem
- critically analyze the given information
- design an experiment to collect data
- analyze the collection
- evaluate the experiment
- validate the inferences and interpretations made
Examples of Common Causes for Data Misinterpretation
Unrepresentative Samples
These are collections of data measurement or observations that do not adequately describe the natural process or phenomenon being studied. The phrase garbage-in, garbage-out refers to this situation and implies that none of the conclusions or the inference based on such unrepresentative samples should be trusted. In general, collecting a population representative sample is a hard experimental design problem.
- Self-Selection - voluntary response samples, where the respondents, units or participants decide themselves whether to be included in the sample, survey or experiment.
- Non-Sampling Errors (e.g., non-response bias) are errors in the data collection that are not due to the process of sampling or the study design.
Sampling Errors
Sampling errors arise from a decision to use a sample rather than measure the entire population.
Samples of Small Sizes
Small sample sizes may significantly distort the interpretation of the data, or results, because a small-sample data distribution may have completely different characteristics from these of the native population the sample is drawn from (e.g., center, spread, shape, etc.) For example, use the SOCR CLT activity to sample small samples from varieties of distributions and compare the sample-histogram against the population distribution. Their characteristics will be mostly similar, but sometimes they will be drastically different.
Loaded Questions in Surveys or Polls
The phrasing of questions, their intonation and emphasis may significantly affect the perception of the question (intentionally or unintentionally).
Misleading Graphs
Look at the quantitative information represented in a chart or plot, not at the shape, orientation, relation or pattern represented by the graph.
- Partial Pictures
- Deliberate Distortions
- Scale breaks and axes scaling
Inappropriate estimates or statistics
Erroneous population parameter estimates (intentionally or most likely unintentionally) may affect data collections. The source of the data and the method for parameter estimation should be carefully reviewed to avoid bias and misinterpretation of data, results and to guarantee robust inference.
Computational Resources: Internet-based SOCR Tools
Examples & Hands-on Activities
Problems
References
- SOCR Home page: http://www.socr.ucla.edu
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