In a similar fashion, once students have begun to develop an understanding of associationa topic beginning in the eighth grade under CCSSM, and appearing in tertiary statistics as well as quantitative reasoning coursesa time-series plot might be shared, such as the one in Figure 4 taken from this blog post (Acquah Citation2020, May). There, they speak about two use cases in which COVID-19 information was used in a misleading way. Once hearing this statement, doctors were skeptical, as they knew how dangerously addictive opioids could be to treat chronicle pain. 1. This is an absolute reduction of 1.2% over 4 years, or 0.3% annually. Share sensitive information only on official, Yes, spin. If you perform a quantitative analysis, sample sizes under 200 people are usually invalid. In CCSSM, students gain experiences with histograms beginning in grade 6, and they begin comparing multiple plots as early as the seventh grade. Ask a credible source, such as a doctor or nurse, if they have additional information. When an experiment or a survey is led on a totally not significant sample size, not only will the results be unusable, but the way of presenting them - namely as percentages - will be totally misleading. 19 Most Misleading Statistics (That Are Technically Correct) By: Cracked Plasticians April 20, 2016 Advertisement When the math adds up, the numbers never lie. However, when you look at a longer time period such as 1910 to 2015 (image below) we realize that the debt is actually very low comparing it to other years. Just like we saw with Fox News examples, the manipulation of the axes can completely change the way the information on a graph is perceived. The pandemic of the novel coronavirus has gripped the entire world and engaged people in consuming scientific informationperhaps more so than any other event in history. For some effective examples of visual information, check out this visualization of wealth shown to scale, or Nicky Case's website, which is full of interactive games that explain how society works. Each kind is calculated differently and gives different information (and a different impression) about the data: Train journalists, editors, and other media professionals to recognize, correct, and avoid amplifying misinformation. Strengthen and scale the use of evidence-based educational programs that build resilience to misinformation. In this case, there is no way to know if the data were purposefully (mis)represented to support a particular message, or if it were (mis)represented by accident. Another issue, and maybe the worst of them all, is that the dates under the bars are not ordered chronologically. (1 days ago) WebMisleading Data Visualization Examples 1. If you still want to use the data to make a point, you can make sure to mention the small sample size as a disclaimer. The image below is a great example of this misleading practice. They provide great insight, often more so than the answers. Statistical reliability is crucial in order to ensure the precision and validity of the analysis. Do numbers lie? When the Georgia Department of Public Health posted this plot (see Figure 3), it went viral because of what may have been intentional data manipulation. Fig. Using the wrong graph 7. If all this is true, what is the problem with statistics? The field of statistics is concerned with collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.. For example, if you have a data set with a diastolic blood pressure range of 230 (highest diastolic value) to 25 (lowest diastolic value) = 205 (range), an error probably exists in your data because the values of 230 and 25 aren't valid blood pressure measures in most studies. Proactively engage with patients and the public on health misinformation, Use technology and media platforms to share accurate health information with the public. According to a definition by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, a Simpsons Paradox is a statistical phenomenon where an association between two variables in a population emerges, disappears or reverses when the population is divided into subpopulations. Staying with our example, that would look like this: Given the rising costs to the middle class, do you support government assistance programs?. For example, the objective graph literacy scale is a test with 13 items. Lets explain this better with an example. An infographic with tips on how to talk to your community about health misinformation. The results provide deceiving information that creates false narratives around a topic. This slide includes the key takeaways from the advisory. There are two problems with this. They're infallible, concrete, impossible to argue with -- however you want to spin it, they make one solid point. This is known as the misuse of statistics. It is often assumed that the misuse of statistics is limited to those individuals or companies seeking to gain profit from distorting the truth, be it economics, education, or mass media. This graph makes the argument that masks help "flatten the curve" (or lower the rate of growth of COVID-19 cases) by pointing out that countries with mask usage had lower growth rates than countries without mask usage. A Beginners Introduction To The Most Common Data Types In Programming, A Complete Guide To Spider Charts With Best Practices And Examples Of When To Use Them, A Beginners Guide To The Power Of Area Charts See Examples, Types & Best Practices, Using percentage change in combination with a small sample size. Why did the first plot look so different? For further thinking about this topic, I recommend this blogpost (Rost Citation2018, May). By Dana Litt and Scott Walters, March 24, 2021. American network Fox News has been under scrutiny several times throughout the years for showing misleading statistics graphs that seem to purposely portray a conclusion that is not accurate. ", we can address 8 methods often used - on purpose or not - that skew the analysis and the results. Purposely or not, the time periods we choose to portray will affect the way viewers perceive the data. The top 10 most-shared articles that were reviewed by clinicians and scientists for accuracy were: When this paradox goes unnoticed, it can significantly influence the way the data is interpreted, leaving room to believe a certain conclusion or assumption is an absolute truth, when it could change by looking at it from a different perspective. Based on the structure of the chart, it does in fact appear to show that the number of abortions since 2006 experienced substantial growth, while the number of cancer screenings substantially decreased. The Surgeon Generals Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities. This video can be used for educational and training purposes. Just like other industries or areas that we will cover on this list of examples, the healthcare industry is not free of the misuse of statistics. Now, as we learned throughout this post, we cant say with certainty that the law caused the rise in deaths as there are other factors that could influence that number. Citation2020), this very truth has now been laid bare for the world to see in the media and social media as the general public grapples with making, and making sense of, data-based arguments around COVID-19. It is also worth noting that, as there is a large degree of variability within the climate system, temperatures are typically measured with at least a 30-year cycle. Finally, how big was the sample set, and who was part of it? Take care to apply data responsibly, ethically, and visually, and watch your transparent corporate identity grow. 1. 5 Howick Place | London | SW1P 1WG. To avoid this issue, you should always pick a random sample of people whose background may or may not be related to the topic of the survey. Educate students and the public on common tactics used by those who spread misinformation online. Another common misuse of statistics is strategically picking the time period to show a result. Whether this person notices or not, they might be providing an inaccurate or manipulated picture to confirm a specific conclusion. Prioritize protecting health professionals and journalists from online harassment. . You can also ask someone external to your research to look at the data, someone biased to the topic that can confirm your results are not misleading. No one buys a magazine where it states that next year, the same thing is going to happen in XYZ market as this year even though it is true. Remember, misuse of statistics can be accidental or purposeful. . This misleading tactic is frequently used to make one group look better than another. As an exercise in due diligence, we will review some of the most common forms of misuse of statistics, and various alarming (and sadly, common) misleading statistics examples from public life. There are two take-aways when comparing the two plots. The prevalence of health misinformation was the highest on Twitter and on issues related to smoking products and drugs. Accepted author version posted online: 12 Apr 2021, Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. In critical scenarios such as a global pandemic, this becomes even more important as misinformation can lead to a higher spread and more deaths. The novel coronavirus has forced the world to interact with data visualizations in order to make decisions at the individual level that have, sometimes, grave consequences. To the question "can statistics be manipulated? For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic misinformation has caused people to decline COVID-19 vaccines, reject public health measures such as masking and physical distancing, and use unproven treatments. Broad dissemination and consumption of false or misleading health information, amplified by the internet, poses risks to public health and problems for both the health care enterprise and the government. Lets look at one of them closely. Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah explained: In pink, thats the reduction in the breast exams, and the red is the increase in the abortions. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. To avoid situations like this, there is a bunch of healthcare analytics software that assists analysts and average users in the creation of stunning and accurate visualizations for their data. Lets put this into perspective with an example of the misuse of statistics in advertising. Example 8: Urban Planning. On Sept. 29, 2015, Republicans from the U.S. Congress questioned Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, regarding the misappropriation of $500 million in annual federal funding. Although in 2007 the company was forced to pay a $600 million fine for its criminal actions, the consequences of this are still seen to date. And now have a look at the trend from 1900 to 2012: While the long-term data may appear to reflect a plateau, it clearly paints a picture of gradual warming. Businesses and analysts are exposed to making biases when a single person is doing an entire analysis. Many seem wilfully false, created out of, say, a journalist's desire to create a sensation, a government's need to make a political point or an aid agency's wish for more funds. For example, let's say you're comparing mammal weights. Here are common types of misuse of statistics: Now that you know them, it will be easier to spot them and question all the stats that are given to you every day. To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System Not using annotations 12. But, what about causation? Manipulating the Y-axis+ 6. For the presidential run of 2012, the news network showed the graph below where we see a pie chart displaying a total of 193% which is clearly wrong and misleading as the total should be 100%. Annual Data 3. How does the second plot cause you to reconsider the weight of evidence (e.g., Pfannkuch Citation2006; Engledowl and Gorham Blanco Citation2019) supporting your conclusion? Using a clearly defined scale, here is what the information looks like: Once placed within a clearly defined scale, it becomes evident that while the amount of cancer screenings has in fact decreased, it still far outnumbers the amount of abortion procedures performed yearly. Example #1. Considering the vast differences between, say, mice and elephants, it can be hard to fit 3 ounces and a ton on the same graph. A controversial representation of this happened in 2014 when a graph depicting the number of murders committed using firearms in Florida from 1990 to 2010 was published in the context of the Stand Your Ground law, enacted in 2005 to give people the right to use deadly force for self-defense. Image: Yale University What's wrong with this picture? Clearly, there is a correlation between the two, but is there causation? Developed in collaboration with the Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES). Address health misinformation in your community by working with schools, community groups, and health care professionals to develop local strategies against misinformation. A first good thing would be, of course, to stand in front of an honest survey/experiment/research pick the one you have beneath your eyes , that has applied the correct techniques of collection and interpretation of data. Taking that into account, what the graph is actually showing is an increase in deaths using firearms after the law was enacted. The intent is to convey a shift in focus from cancer screenings to abortion. Did you know that with a free Taylor & Francis Online account you can gain access to the following benefits? Cherry picking data. It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. The graph was later republished with organized dates and counties. Strengthen the monitoring of health questions, concerns, and misinformation. As businesses are often forced to follow a difficult-to-interpret market roadmap, statistical methods can help with the planning that is necessary to navigate a landscape filled with potholes, pitfalls, and hostile competition. Seasonal flu, meanwhile, only kills around 0.1%. In this case, it can create the wrong idea of a product being healthier than it actually is. So, let's explore some interesting choices of using data visualization tools and discuss why they are misleading. Listen with empathy, ask questions, provide alternative explanations, and dont expect success from one conversation. After a discussion, and a conclusion that attempts to make a generalized claim beyond the data (i.e., an inference; also a seventh-grade standard), the adjusted plot (Figure 2) could be shared with questions such as: Does the conclusion still hold when the plot is adjusted to accurately depict the two situations? In an undergraduate-level context, it is fairly common to reason about side-by-side histograms, or to create them, in statistics courses or quantitative reasoning courses. Misleading graphs are a source of misinformation that worry many experts. But this didnt come easy. 3 Tweet on May 16 by Calling Bullshit showing a misleading plot produced by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Spain and Italy have large populations, but enormous. A 2009 investigative survey by Dr. Daniele Fanelli from The University of Edinburgh found that 33.7% of scientists surveyed admitted to questionable research practices, including modifying results to improve outcomes, subjective data interpretation, withholding analytical details, and dropping observations because of gut feelings. See typical methods & real-world examples of misuse of statistics the news, advertising, science & media. Our guide included some misleading examples and illustrations of data, several of which come from the Reddit thread for misleading visual statistics. Just one in a long line of brands to falsely claim a product has health benefits, it . This is reported by the makers of Fosamax accurately as a 56% reduction in risk, which is true but misleading. To make sure the reliability is high, there are various techniques to perform the first of them being the control tests, which should have similar results when reproducing an experiment in similar conditions. For example, while France had almost 150 years to adapt to a change . Misinformation spreads especially easily on social media and online retail sites, as well as via search engines. To get this trip started, let's look at a fallacious statistics definition. In this case 100/1.2% =88. With the rise of advanced technology and globalized operations, statistical analyses grant businesses insight into solving the extreme uncertainties of the market. We apologize. Each of these sources may have other primary purposes, so there are advantages and challenges when they are used for the purposes of quality measurement and reporting. For example, on a poll seeking tax opinions, lets look at the two potential questions: - Do you believe that you should be taxed so other citizens dont have to work? Luxembourg and Andorra are in the top 10 largely because of their exceptionally small populations (roughly 600,000 and 77,000, respectively). As we can see, the X axes here start from 590 instead of zero. Misleading Coronavirus graphs. Many would falsely assume, yes, solely based on the strength of the correlation. This presents opportunities for statistics educators and statistics teacher educators to reflect on these (mis)representations and leverage them as teaching and learning opportunities to build statistical literacy.