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Stat-Spotting Joel Best

Stat-Spotting By Joel Best

Stat-Spotting by Joel Best


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Condition - Very Good
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Summary

Alarming statistics bombard our daily lives, appearing in the news, on the Web, seemingly everywhere. This work features pertinent examples from the news, including the number of deaths reported in Iraq, the threat of secondhand smoke, and the increase in the number of overweight Americans.

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Stat-Spotting Summary

Stat-Spotting: A Field Guide to Identifying Dubious Data by Joel Best

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.

Stat-Spotting Reviews

"An ideal guide for anyone who reads a newspaper, watches television, or surfs the Web. In short, everyone."--Numeracy "Offers an eye-opening field guide to identifying problematic data and concludes by calling for better statistics."--Nacada Journal

About Joel Best

Joel Best is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. Among his many books are Flavor of the Month: Why Smart People Fall for Fads, More Damned Lies and Statistics: How Numbers Confuse Public Issues, and Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists, all from UC Press.

Table of Contents

PART 1 GETTING STARTED A. Spotting Questionable Numbers B. Background B.1 Statistical Benchmarks B.2 Severity and Frequency PART 2 VARIETIES OF DUBIOUS DATA C. Blunders C.1 The Slippery Decimal Point C.2 Botched Translations C.3 Misleading Graphs C.4 Careless Calculations D. Sources: Who Counted-and Why? D.1 Big, Round Numbers D.2 Hyperbole D.3 Shocking Claims D.4 Naming the Problem E. Definitions: What Did They Count? E.1 Broad Definitions E.2 Expanding Definitions E.3 Changing Definitions E.4 The Uncounted F. Measurements: How Did They Count? F.1 Creating Measures F.2 Odd Units of Analysis F.3. Loaded Questions F.4 Raising the Bar F.5 Technical Measures G. Packaging: What Are They Telling Us? G.1 Impressive Formats G.2 Misleading Samples G.3 Convenient Time Frames G.4 Peculiar Percentages G.5 Selective Comparisons G.6 Statistical Milestones G.7. Averages G.8 Epidemics G.9 Correlations G.10 Discoveries H. Debates: What If They Disagree? H.1 Causality Debates H.2 Equality Debates H.3 Policy Debates PART 3 STAT-SPOTTING ON YOUR OWN I. Summary: Common Signs of Dubious Data J. Better Data: Some Characteristics K. Afterword: If You Had No Idea Things Were That Bad, They Probably Aren't L. Suggestions for Those Who Want to Continue Stat-Spotting Acknowledgments Notes

Additional information

CIN0520257464VG
9780520257467
0520257464
Stat-Spotting: A Field Guide to Identifying Dubious Data by Joel Best
Used - Very Good
Hardback
University of California Press
2008-09-16
144
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Stat-Spotting