Stat-Spotting

Are four million women really battered to death by their husbands or boyfriends each year? Does a young person commit suicide every thirteen minutes in the United States? Is methamphetamine our number one drug problem today? Alarming statistics bombard our daily lives, appearing in the news, on the Web, seemingly everywhere. But all too often, even the most respected publications present numbers that are miscalculated, misinterpreted, hyped, or simply misleading. Following on the heels of his highly acclaimed "Damned Lies and Statistics" and "More Damned Lies and Statistics", Joel Best now offers this practical field guide to help everyone identify questionable statistics.Entertaining, informative, and concise, "Stat-Spotting" is essential reading for people who want to be more savvy and critical consumers of news and information. "Stat-Spotting" features pertinent examples from today's news, including the number of deaths reported in Iraq, the threat of secondhand smoke, the increase in the number of overweight Americans, and many more, and a commonsense approach that doesn't require advanced math or statistics.

ISBN 0520257464   Pages 144 ISBN13 9780520257467 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher University of California Press   Weight (grammes) 371 Imprint University of California Press   Published in Berkerley Format Hardback   Height (mm) 219 Publication date 01 Oct 2008   Width (mm) 146 Library of Congress 2008017175   Spine width (mm) 15 DEWEY 301.0727   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC22

Pt. 1		Getting Started
A		Spotting Questionable Numbers		3
B		Background		7
Pt. 2		Varieties of Dubious Data
C		Blunders		17
D		Sources: Who Counted-And Why?		27
E		Definitions: What Did They Count?		41
F		Measurements: How Did They Count?		49
G		Packaging: What Are They Telling Us?		64
H		Debates: What If They Disagree?		86
Pt. 3		Stat-Spotting on Your Own
I		Summary: Common Signs of Dubious Data		103
J		Better Data: Some Characteristics		106
K		Afterword: If You Had No Idea Things Were That Bad, They Probably Aren't		111
L		Suggestions for Those Who Want to Continue Stat-Spotting		114
		Notes		119
		Index		131

"An ideal guide for anyone who reads a newspaper, watches television, or surfs the Web. In short, everyone."--Numeracy

 Be the first to write a customer review