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Statistics – So What? Statistics was one of the required classes I struggled with both on the under graduate and graduate level. It was the only “C” I got in grad school (a good thing because a “B” average was required to stay in / complete the program). While I never used any of this since I didn’t go into research, the class did give me an understanding of how the game of statistics works. Essentially results can be used to both confirm and deny something. Situational example. Chuck’s life is considerably simpler than mine, more like the typical senior. It revolves around medical appointments and the routines of the day like the mail delivery. Often the short walk to the mailbox is the only time he goes out of the house all day. This morning he commented “There goes the postal truck’”. I made one of my usual smart azz about his hectic life. He commented that the mail delivery was one of the things he can count on to remain constant. Being a structured consistent person is as necessary for him as it is abhorrent for me. ADD brain off and running. Statically the mail truck goes by in the same time window each day. This can be used to argue that since it occurs at the same time every day it is most likely that it will continue to occur this way. However, the same results can be used to support the argument that with each day that passes the likelihood of deviance increases. And people wonder why I lend little credibility to political arguments. Today’s happenings can be used to support the belief that we are making amazing progress on the path to a better world or that they are yet another step on the road to H@@l. We need to look no farther than the daily posts from the left and right to see good examples of this. OK, class is over. Chuck off to the mail box to pick up the daily AARP, NRA and Medicare supplement propaganda. I’m on the phone to hassle with error on my account at the dental office and a text to my regarding some fraudulently ordered magazines ordered in her name and delivered to my address, followed by a trip to city hall for yet another attempt to resolve the building code issues for my upgraded electrical work, to my sister’s to negotiate the latest issues between her and my step mother, squeeze in a swim, stop at the health food store to restock my herbals, pick up something to cook for dinner, then hope for a little time to work on the uniquely personal wedding ceremony I am writing for my nephew. Yes, my life is hectic and atypical but I am glad I am me. Being in the middle on the bell curve for a senior’s life style has no more appeal for me than being on the midpoint of the curve in any thing has ever been. Spiritwoman ^i^ |
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Yup, I agree completely with your opinion on statistics. Wow!! You sure have a busy day!!
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I was enjoying the read until you got to politics, that is one of the subjects I love to ignore. Like I have said so often, "The words politician and honesty do not belong in the same sentence." Alfie...
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Yes you do have a hectic life. It's nice to be kept busy, to a degree. Too much things to do can be stressful. As far as stats, I agree that they can be used to support different points of view. Elaine Shuel
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7/23/2015 8:42 pm |
Yup, I agree completely with your opinion on statistics. Wow!! You sure have a busy day!! Spiritwoman ^i^
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7/23/2015 8:43 pm |
I was enjoying the read until you got to politics, that is one of the subjects I love to ignore. Like I have said so often, "The words politician and honesty do not belong in the same sentence." Alfie... Spiritwoman ^i^
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7/23/2015 8:44 pm |
Yes you do have a hectic life. It's nice to be kept busy, to a degree. Too much things to do can be stressful. As far as stats, I agree that they can be used to support different points of view. Spiritwoman ^i^
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7/23/2015 8:50 pm |
Yup, if I had keep current on how to run the numbers I could use them to prove really silly things. Today I would likely do much better in the class becasue there are computer programs to do the equations. In our day we had to learn the formulas by heart and do the calculations by hand. The course did, however, leave my with a good understanding of how thee numbers are arrived at which has been helpful in so many areas of life. I love telling my nieces about the hardships of my youth. They are horrified at the thought of having to do things the old way. Spiritwoman ^i^
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7/23/2015 8:53 pm |
They are great for giving us an understanding of hoe the "numbers" work. Spiritwoman ^i^
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7/23/2015 9:03 pm |
Guilty here - I know lots about the issues and have my opinions and reasons to back them up but don't pay attention to the he said / she said of political babble and definitely don't rely on things as reported by any side of the mainstream media. It's the politicians (both sides) that make things distasteful, not the issues. Worse yet is the useless and nasty verbal exchanges between people who blindly follow one ideology no matter which side they might be on. None of it promotes solutions or peace. Spiritwoman ^i^
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7/24/2015 6:46 am |
Stats data can be misused, just like many other things in life. Professional statisticians know this and design their data gathering to avoid as many pitfalls as possible. I see stats misused frequently in SFF blogs. A recurring one is what The Queen of Hyperbole and her acolytes put out: The cities with the strictest gun laws have the highest crime rates.
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7/24/2015 2:59 pm |
You can, but not always ones that stand up under analysis.
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