ABUSES OF STATISTICS

ED NEIL O. MARATAS, MA
1. Misleading Graphs
Look at the quantitative information represented in a chart or plot,
not at the shape, orientation, relation or pattern represented by the
graph.

-Partial Pictures
-Deliberate Distortions
-Scale breaks and axes scaling

2. Sampling Errors
Sampling errors arise from a decision of using a sample rather than
measuring the entire population.
3. Sample sizes used are not a good
representation of the population.

A hospital wanted to survey the local area to see where most people choose to
seek emergency medical attention.
The human resource department choose to do a phone survey. The survey
consisted of phone calls to numbers listed in the local phone directory.
This does not represent the entire population because
a) not everyone has a home phone,
b) many people may not be available for the call,
c) some people will agree to the survey and some will not.
4. Sample sizes are too small to
draw conclusions.
The statement, “3 out of 4 doctors recommend
………”can be very misleading without further
information because the reader does not
know how many doctors were surveyed.
If the sample size was not large, then the data is
not a good representation of the entire
population.
5. Loaded Questions in Surveys or Polls
 The phrasing of questions, their intonation and emphasis
may significantly affect the perception of the question
(intentionally or unintentionally).
6. Inappropriate estimates or statistics
 Erroneous population parameter estimates (intentionally
or most likely unintentionally) may affect data
collections. The source of the data and the method for
parameter estimation should be carefully reviewed to
avoid bias and misinterpretation of data, results and to
guarantee robust inference.
THE END