Welding and Parkinsons

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> 72% of all statistics are meaningless. </font>

How meaningful is that statistic? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[5030]

Andy:

I really like the lab better. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Andy:

I really like the lab better. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )</font>

Correction..... he has applied to have his name changed to Walter..... Andy.... err.... Walter is a true politician.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jpr62902]

Mr. Mondale,

That was my attempt at Junkman-like, dry, almost arid, humor.

 

[IrTxRx]

I remember my medical statistics professor quoted -

There's lies, there's **** lies, and then there is statistics

Don't know who to credit the orginal to???

 

[boustany]

Lies, **** Lies, and Statistics was Benjamin Disraeli (British PM, long ago). Mark Twain 'borrowed it' from him.

Gee, that Mark Twain fella knew a good turn of phrase ...

 

[Bird]

Have you ever read How to Lie With Statistics ? It's been many years since I read it.

 

[boustany]

I read it years ago, although, if I recall the techniques were relatively sophisticated. More recently, I read a book showing how special interest groups redefine things in order to make it sound like the world is coming to and end (a good part of The Skeptical Environmentalist is about just that).

The thing is, these days nobody bothers to lie with statistics when they can simply lie with made up facts and nobody calls them on it. (I'm thinking of the sub species of politician as I write this). /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

To bad the news media decided it was in the entertainment business years ago ....

 

[virgil]

figures do not lie, but liers figure.....
Example- everyone who eats strawberrys will die !

 

[IrTxRx]

Brian - Thanks, always want to give credit where credit was due.

Bird - No i've never read that book, but judging from the few pages available on amazon, much is still applicable today. With the advent of computers it is interesting how easy it has become to employ good statistics and (in medical literature anyway) even better 'smoke and mirrors.' In my short career as a pharmacist I have seen drug trials "progress" from superiority to equvalence to non-inferiority comparisons. The more expensive the drug and larger the market, the lower you set your expectations.