Science and the Shortcomings of Statistics

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday March 17, 2010 @02:30PM from the 14%-of-people-know-that-statistics-can-prove-anything dept.

Kilrah_il writes "The linked article provides a short summary of the problems scientists have with statistics. As an intern, I see it many times: Doctors do lots of research but don't have a clue when it comes to statistics — and in the social science area, it's even worse. From the article: 'Even when performed correctly, statistical tests are widely misunderstood and frequently misinterpreted. As a result, countless conclusions in the scientific literature are erroneous, and tests of medical dangers or treatments are often contradictory and confusing.'"

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Its common knowledge by Johnny+Fusion · 2010-03-17 14:31 · Score: 0, Redundant

That 77.28% of all statistics are made up.

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There are two kinds of fool. One says, This is old, and therefore good. And one says, This is new, and therefore better.
Re:Example: Standard Deviation by Lunix+Nutcase · 2010-03-17 15:27 · Score: 0, Redundant

Yeah because you never forget anything, right?