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Damned lies and statistics : untangling numbers from the media, politicians, and activists / Joel Best.
LIBRA HM535 .B47 2001
Available from offsite location
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Best, Joel.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Sociology--Statistical methods.
- Sociology.
- Social problems--Statistical methods.
- Social problems.
- Social indicators.
- Physical Description:
- ix, 190 pages ; 22 cm
- Place of Publication:
- Berkeley : University of California Press, [2001]
- Summary:
- While startling statistics shape the thinking about social issues, the author attests that these numbers can be wrong. This book is a lively guide to spotting bad statistics and learning to think critically about these influential numbers. Tables.
- Contents:
- Introduction: The Worst Social Statistic Ever 1
- 1 The Importance of Social Statistics 9
- 2 Soft Facts: Sources of Bad Statistics 30
- 3 Mutant Statistics: Methods for Mangling Numbers 62
- 4 Apples and Oranges: Inappropriate Comparisons 96
- 5 Stat Wars: Conflicts over Social Statistics 128
- 6 Thinking About Social Statistics: The Critical Approach 160.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN:
- 0520219783
- 0520228650
- OCLC:
- 45420385
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