Contents

• Statistics• Statistical literacy

What are statistics? “statistics are like jewels; that is,

they have to be selected, they have to be cut, they have to be polished, and they have to be placed in settings so that they can be viewed from particular

angles.” Best, Joel (2002) Transcript of Talk at Augsburg College W. M Keck Statistical Literacy gathering.www.statlit.org/PDF/2002BestAugsburg.pdf

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE54mDs6St4&feature=related

Collecting data

Organising data

Recording data

Presenting statistics

Offering statistics in context

Using graphical

representations

Ensuring the

statistics suit the

audience

Incorporate real-life

examplesFactual and well-balanced

Presenting statistics

Tables Graphs

Misuse of statisticsArticle Fact

• Asked to estimate the proportion of foreign-born people living in the UK, the average guess is 29.4%. The true figure according to OECD data is 10.8%, lower than Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada and the USA.

http://splithorizons.blogspot.com/2011/07/tabloid-misinformation-makes-our.html

Statistical literacy

Statistical literacy is the ability to understand and use statistics to present clear and convincing

reasoning and informed decision-making

Statistical literacy

• Always question – check what is being reported and what has been omitted.

• Ensure you understand the meaning of the data and that data is being compared correctly in order to prevent misinterpretation.

• Look at the data critically and think about possible interpretations and then draw your own conclusion

Plains of Gheisra

Random – by chanceOmen – showing a pattern

Which of the following are random?

Significance

In statistics, significance is not used to indicate importance but the likely hood that the result reflects a pattern rather than coincidence.

Train 1 Train 2 Train 3 Train 4

9 hours 4 hours 6 hours 2 hours

11 hours 3 hours 8 hours 1 hour

10 hours 4 hours 7 hours 3 hours

8 hours 5 hours 7 hours 5 hours

12 hours 2 hours 6 hours 6 hours

1 2 3 4

Median Range MeanTrain 1Train 2Train 3Train 4

Median Range Mean

Train 1 10 hours 4 hours 10 hours

Train 2 4 hours 3 hours 3.6 hours

Train 3 7 hours 2 hours 6.8 hours

Train 4 3 hours 5 hours 3.4 hours

Clickers

Bias

Question data

• Always ask - WHY?• Does the data support what you expect?• Sample size• Variables and their measurement• Changes in variables and its effects• Timeframe• Are totals sums or averages• Areas for further investigation• Explain irregular data• Determine significance of the data

Online training

http://library.cput.ac.za/stats_literacy/Welcome.html

"the only statistics you can trust are those you

falsified yourself"

Thank you

Winston Churchill – British Prime Minister