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Stat-spotting : a field guide to identifying dubious data / Joel Best.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Berkeley : University of California Press, 2013.Edition: Updated and expandedDescription: xii, 146 pages ; 21 cm. ; pbkISBN:
  • 0520279980 (pbk.)
  • 9780520279988 (pbk.)
  • 0520957075
  • 9780520957077
Subject(s): Additional physical formats: No titleDDC classification:
  • 301.0727 23
LOC classification:
  • .B477 2013
Contents:
[Part 1: Getting started] Spotting questionable numbers -- Background -- Statistical benchmarks -- Severity and frequency.
[Part 2: Varieties of dubious data] Blunders -- The slippery decimal point -- Botched translations -- Misleading graphs -- Careless calculations -- Sources: who counted--and why? -- Big round numbers -- Hyperbole -- Shocking claims -- Naming the problem -- Definitions: what did they count? -- Broad definitions -- Expanding definitions -- Changing definitions -- The uncounted -- Measurements: how did they count? -- Creating measures -- Odd units of analysis -- Loaded questions -- Raising the bar -- Technical measures -- Packaging: what are they telling us? -- Impressive formats -- Misleading samples -- Convenient time frames -- Peculiar percentages -- Selective comparisons -- Statistical milestones -- Averages -- Epidemics ; Correlations -- Discoveries -- Rhetoric: what do they want us to think? -- Using short-term turnover to measure long-term problems -- Sudden turns for the worse -- Designating myths -- Rhetorical flourishes -- Debates: what if they disagree? -- Causality debates -- Equality debates -- Policy debates.
[Part 3: Stat-spotting on your own] Summary: common signs of dubious data -- Better data: some characteristics -- Afterword: if you had no idea things were that bad, they probably aren't -- Suggestions for those who want to continue stat-spotting.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode
General Lending Carlow Campus Library General Lending 301.0727 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available 83160

Includes bibliographical references (pages 133-144) and index.
16.76

[Part 1: Getting started] Spotting questionable numbers -- Background -- Statistical benchmarks -- Severity and frequency.

[Part 2: Varieties of dubious data] Blunders -- The slippery decimal point -- Botched translations -- Misleading graphs -- Careless calculations -- Sources: who counted--and why? -- Big round numbers -- Hyperbole -- Shocking claims -- Naming the problem -- Definitions: what did they count? -- Broad definitions -- Expanding definitions -- Changing definitions -- The uncounted -- Measurements: how did they count? -- Creating measures -- Odd units of analysis -- Loaded questions -- Raising the bar -- Technical measures -- Packaging: what are they telling us? -- Impressive formats -- Misleading samples -- Convenient time frames -- Peculiar percentages -- Selective comparisons -- Statistical milestones -- Averages -- Epidemics ; Correlations -- Discoveries -- Rhetoric: what do they want us to think? -- Using short-term turnover to measure long-term problems -- Sudden turns for the worse -- Designating myths -- Rhetorical flourishes -- Debates: what if they disagree? -- Causality debates -- Equality debates -- Policy debates.

[Part 3: Stat-spotting on your own] Summary: common signs of dubious data -- Better data: some characteristics -- Afterword: if you had no idea things were that bad, they probably aren't -- Suggestions for those who want to continue stat-spotting.

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