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Lesson 3 Be a Critical Thinker

The document discusses the importance of critical thinking when interpreting statistics, highlighting how misleading samples and averages can distort the truth. It emphasizes the need to question the source and methodology behind statistical claims, as well as the potential biases in data presentation, such as graphs. Ultimately, readers are encouraged to analyze statistics carefully rather than accepting them at face value.

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4 views

Lesson 3 Be a Critical Thinker

The document discusses the importance of critical thinking when interpreting statistics, highlighting how misleading samples and averages can distort the truth. It emphasizes the need to question the source and methodology behind statistical claims, as well as the potential biases in data presentation, such as graphs. Ultimately, readers are encouraged to analyze statistics carefully rather than accepting them at face value.

Uploaded by

jeodong.2420805
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 3 Be a Critical Thinker

Did Minjeong just happen to buy a defective


Tricks behind Statistics
In today's world, there is a lot of statistical product? Or was the advertisement completely fake?

information around us all the time. Every time we When Minjeong read “100% of users,” she should

read an article on the Internet or see a commercial have asked herself, “Where did the company get this

on TV, we are likely to come into contact with figure?” If Minjeong had read the tiny letters at the

numbers and figures. Generally, these numbers help bottom of the ad, she would have found that the

us make better decisions in our daily lives. For sample included only five people. As in this case,

example, when we choose which movie to see, we when a sample is not large enough to show a wide

can check the ratings and see the reviews of range of results, it can be misleading. By using small

thousands of viewers. Similarly, when people see samples, companies can come up with any results

statistics that show fastening a seat belt greatly they want and use them for their own purposes.

increases the chances of surviving a car accident,

they may choose to wear one themselves. These are People can also get the wrong idea from statistics

just a few examples of how statistical information when a sample is not random. For example, a

plays an important role in our lives. However, is it restaurant may put survey cards on the tables,

safe to believe statistics exactly the way they are hoping to know what most customers think about its

presented to us? Unfortunately, statistics can be food, service, or atmosphere. However, few cards will

misused in many ways. Let's learn about some be filled out by normal customers, because they

common tricks behind statistics. don't have any reason to do so. Only those with

strongly positive or negative reactions are likely to


Samples: How Many and Who?
respond to the survey. This method of choosing a
On the Internet, Minjeong sees an advertisement
sample is called “voluntary response sampling.” Such
that reads, “100% of users report brighter and softer
samples are biased in favor of strong opinions and
skin with Blossom Company's liquid facial soap.” It
underrepresent the moderate ones.
claims that these results are from an independent
Therefore, when you see a statistic, remember that
laboratory and are guaranteed by a public agency.
the sample is just as important as the statistic itself.
Minjeong does not question the statistics and buys
How many people were in the sample? Who were
some bottles, despite the high price. However,
they? If you don't know, be careful not to leap to
although Minjeong uses the soap for a few months,
conclusions.
she does not experience any noticeable changes.
The Trap of Averages An average is convincing because it is so simple. To

ABC Corporation wants to hire some employees. In avoid being tricked, however, you have to know what

order to look like a well-paying company and to sort of average is being reported. You also need to

recruit competent candidates, the company decides find out the distribution of the values in order to get

to distribute a press release that says the average a more accurate idea of the real data.

yearly salary of its employees is $57,000, which is

quite high. However, the fact is that more than half


Same Data, Different Graphs
of its employees earn no more than $30,000 or less
In mass media, graphs are often used because they
a year, and the most common salary for employees
display data more efficiently than tables of raw data
is only $20,000.
do. However, graphs can be misleading, too. Let's
Did the company spread false information? How is
look at the two graphs below.
this possible? It's because the company used the trap

of averages. Averages can show different pictures

depending on which type is chosen. To understand

the meaning of different types of averages, let's look

at the illustration on the next page.

Most often, the term “average” indicates the “mean.”

It is calculated by adding all the values in a group


The two graphs shown here illustrate how data can
and dividing the result by the number of group
be misrepresented. In the first graph, the vertical axis
members. However, the mean is not the only kind of

average. There are two more kinds: the “median” and goes all the way up to 100 and all the way down to

the “mode.” The median is the number that is exactly 0, which makes the decrease in the percentage look

in the middle of all the other figures. In this case it modest. In the other graph, only 10 percentage

is $30,000, because 12 employees are making more points are shown, from 65 to 75, which makes the

than $30,000 and 12 are making less. The mode is change seem much more extreme. Notable is the

the number that appears most frequently — $20,000 fact that the two graphs are based on exactly the

in this case. As you can see in the illustration, there's same data. So, if you want to point out the
only a handful of people that are earning an average
seriousness of skipping breakfast, you can use the
salary of $57,000 or higher. However, because the
second graph. In fact, you can make nearly any
company wanted to be perceived as a well-paying
graph more convincing in favor of your argument by
one, it used the mean, which results in a deceptively
cutting off the graph at a certain point.
high average salary.
Hence, whenever you see a graph, you should check

the units on the vertical and horizontal axes to see

what the highest and lowest values are. Don't simply

assume the visual impact is the same as the real

story. Check whether the graph is presented in a

specific way to emphasize a point.

Look with a Critical Eye

When people state opinions in articles, speeches,

debates, or advertisements, they often give some

statistics to support or reinforce their point. If these

statistics are found through proper research methods,

then they are objective facts. However, many statistics

that you see and hear could just be numbers that

are meant to convince you of a certain view.

Therefore, the next time you come across some

statistics, don't blindly accept any data that is

presented. Look at the statistics in detail with a

critical eye, and then judge whether or not they are

convincing.

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