Statistics don't lie, but liars can claim statistics

[Mr VJP]

The details tell the truth....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8D8b51EwrI&sns=fb

[DTG3k]

I want everyone in the world to watch this video.

[Deerthug]

Hmmmm... Piers should watch this video.

[wooffer]

Better yet, you should the poll results from our local Long Island newspaper about gun control. The newspaper is a left wing rag, but I guess it has some smart readers.

Scroll to bottom to see results. You can take poll if you like, but not required.

http://www.newsday.com/take-newsday-s-gun-ownership-survey-1.4441485

[virgil]

Statistics sometimes do lie. Look at that Newsday survey. According to this pole, 96% of respondants say they are opposed to a ban on assault weapons. Even the most adament gun rights guys would have to agree that that number couldn't possibly be accurate. A poll like this could easily have produced false results by having a small handful of people (gun rights advocates in this case) take the poll multiple times.

Edited January 14, 2013 by virgil

[Mr VJP]

Statistics are not polls, they are an accumulation of facts. Polls can be manipulated to show any result you want in the end. Change the choices people can choose for answers, or change the question, until you get the answers you want. Every Marketing student or manager knows how this works.

Statistics can be manipulated to show false results, but the methodology can be analyzed and challenged to prove the conclusion wrong if it is done.