Citation

Hemenway DA. Chance 2018; 31(1): 7-11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Springer-Verlag)

DOI

10.1080/09332480.2018.1438703

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As my statistics teacher always said, while it is easy to lie with statistics, it is a lot easier to lie without statistics. I would add that it is also easy to lie with bad statistics.

I am currently reading an interesting book about guns, with the subtitle "The data dont lie." I believe that claim is incorrect. Data can be, and often are, quite inaccurate.

This esay a) emphasizes the importance of data systems ("surveillance systems") -- not one-off surveys, but data that are collected consistently and comparable across sites and over time; b) provides examples of the need to recognize the limitations of each system and to keep improving them; and c) bemoans the lack of both data and funding for statistical analysis of firearm issues...

Language: en